Kirby Puckett

I have to wonder if this guy had OSA! Information provides that he had to retire from baseball at an early age because of glaucoma. And there is a high correlation between the two conditions! Certainly, strokes can result from an oxygen starved body! Just makes me wonder...............

Could be, but it was likely caused by poorly managed diabetes and being 150lbs overweight. The Glaucoma was likely as a result of his diabetes also. Sad to see such a talented guy die so young.

Seems like every medical condition this fellow suffered with could be tied with OSA! Kinda like the chicken or the egg principal! IMHO, observable symptoms can often get treated without addressing the underlying cause. Such practice is not always the doctor's fault either. Sometimes it is the patient that refuses to address the cause of his/her symtoms. I know plenty of patients that simply want a pill "fix" for uncomfortable symptoms!
In any case, like you said, wader, so sad to see it happen!

I had heard this on Keith Olbermann's show last night, but just read an article by Dave Campbell that had this quote:

"Hit by a pitch that broke his jaw on his last at-bat of the 1995 season, Puckett woke up one morning the following spring and couldn't see out of his right eye. It was eventually diagnosed as glaucoma, forcing him to call it quits that July."

Like you, I also had thoughts that he may have had OSA that contributed to his early departure.

Den

I had the pleasure of meeting Kirby (he wouldn't hear of being addressed as "Mr. Puckett") on several occasions. He was positive, enthusiastic and a powerful source of inspiration, motivation, humor and joy for the Minnesota Twins ball club. He was worshipped and adored by fans of all ages, but in particular, children. Thank goodness the later ugliness and stunning revelations about his personal life occurred following his retirement and retreat from the limelight.

I don't think he had diabetes, but carried many risk factors for stroke, including his family history, being morbidly obese and an African-American. I don't know if he snored and I don't know if he had OSA, but if you use the neck-size index, it would be another risk factor.

From the National Institutes for Neurological Diseases and Stroke, American Stroke Association and Intelihealth:

• First strokes are twice as likely among black men (323 per 100,000) than they are among white men (167 per 100,000). Higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, smoking, obesity and physical inactivity explain the elevated risk among blacks.

• Obesity increases the risk of stroke two to three times.

• Men are 1.25 times more likely than women to suffer strokes, especially when comparing younger age groups.

• Stroke can be caused by the rupture of an artery in the brain, or by the rupture of an aneurysm, which is a balloon-like bulge in an artery. This form of stroke, known as hemorrhagic stroke, is less common (20 percent of all cases) and has a higher death rate. African-Americans are more likely to have this form of stroke, which has a 30-day death rate of nearly 40 percent.

For those with OSA, "Even a moderate level of sleep apnea can quadruple long-term stroke risk."*

Be vigilant, everyone. I know it is repetitive and annoying, but it cannot be said too often. Stay the course. Use your CPAP machine. Get your weight under control and exercise. You owe it to yourself. You owe it to your family.

*Sleep Apnea Boosts Stroke Risk