Questions About the Death of Justice Scalia

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died quietly in his sleep on the night of February 12-13, 2016 at age 79. The death was at a private hunting ranch in West Texas where he had arrived by chartered plane less than 24 hours before his death. Without examining the scene or the body, a justice of the peace declared death from a presumed heart attack, despite a lack of any specific symptoms of a heart attack. No autopsy was done. Was "heart attack" the most likely cause of death? Our research shows that 29% of men in this age group suffered from sleep apnea, as defined by at least five apneas per hour of sleep. Sleep apnea means cessations of breathing during sleep. The rate and likely severity of sleep apnea is elevated among men with obesity, and pictures of Justice Scalia show a massive double chin, one of the best predictors of sleep apnea. He also had hypertension, which is associated with sleep apnea. The altitude of the Cibola Creek Ranch is approximately 4,400 feet. Sleep apnea usually grows worse at higher altitudes because blood oxygen drops. It appears likely that Justice Scalia suffered from sleep apnea, but we do not know if he had been treated. No mention was made that he was seen to be using a treatment for sleep apnea when he died. News coverage stated that Justice Scalia had recently suffered a rotator cuff injury to the shoulder that could not be treated surgically. An MRI had been done the day before, and rehabilitation was yet to be organized. Upon arriv...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news