Sleep Apnea Tied to Greater Risk of Death From Cancer
Sleep apnea can be very dangerous for those who suffer from the condition, but a new report by Dr. Javier Nieto of the University of Wisconsin's School of Medicine and Public Health has shown that there is a significant correlation between sleep apnea and death from cancer.
"Sleep apnea is the periodic pausing of breathing during sleep that results in drops in oxygen levels in your blood. It causes snoring and sleepiness during the day," Nieto notes in the study. "Aside from being an annoyance to your spouse, family members and maybe even your neighbors, depending on how loud your snoring is, sleep apnea is a severe problem."
"Drowsiness and sleeping during the day increase the risk of accidents, and sleep apnea is associated with cardiovascular disease, heart disease, strokes, hypertension and cardiovascular mortality. Now, we see this new angle: an increase in cancer mortality," Nieto explained.
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Sleep apnea currently affects 18 million Americans, according to Sleepmed.md, and another 10 million could be affected but as yet remain undiagnosed. According to Nieto, sleep apnea led to a higher risk of death from cancer, and the more intense the apnea (the more episodes per night), the greater the risk.
The reasoning states that a lack of oxygen in someone who has cancer causes the cancerous cells to "try to compensate for the lack of oxygen by growing additional blood vessels to get more oxygen. It's a defense mechanism," said Nieto. And the more cancerous cells found in the body, the greater likelihood of death.
There are various treatments for sleep apnea, which include breathing masks, lifestyle changes, and medication. Treating the apnea may help reduce the risk of death from cancer. "This goes along with the link between sleep apnea and pretty much every chronic medical condition out there," Dr. Steven Park noted.
"Anyone with snoring, severe daytime fatigue, lack of memory or focus, high blood pressure, diabetes and even someone who has to get up to go to the bathroom at night should be screened for sleep apnea," Park recommended.
