11 Stars Gone Too Soon: Actors Lost to Everyday Medical Conditions

Lisette Marie

2. Carrie Fisher: The Silent Struggle of Sleep Apnea

Asian man wearing cpap machine sleeping smoothly all night in bedroom. Photo Credit: Envato @s_kawee

Best known as Princess Leia in Star Wars, Carrie Fisher was a formidable actress, writer, and mental health advocate. Her unexpected death in December 2016, at age 60, was linked to a combination of factors, including sleep apnea and atherosclerotic heart disease. Sleep apnea, a common condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, often goes undiagnosed but significantly increases the risk of heart problems. Fisher's passing brought crucial attention to this silent disorder, highlighting how prevalent and dangerous seemingly "everyday" conditions can be, even for those under constant public scrutiny.

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2. Carrie Fisher: The Silent Struggle of Sleep Apnea

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