Monday, May 21, 2012

New Studies Link Sleep Apnea to Increased Cancer Risk


Sleep apnea has already been linked to severe health problems including stroke, heart attack, hypertension and high blood pressure. Now, two recent studies indicate that people with sleep apnea also face an increased risk for cancer.

In one study, Spanish researchers focused on thousands of sleep clinic patients and found that those with severe forms of sleep apnea—including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)—faced a 65 percent greater risk of developing cancer. The second study, which followed nearly 1,500 government employees in Wisconsin, demonstrated that those who experienced the most apnea breathing episodes at night had a five-times greater risk of dying from cancer than those without a sleep disorder.

Although both studies analyzed only cancer diagnoses and subsequent results, the association is yet another reason to seek treatment if you suffer from sleep apnea symptoms.

The field of dental sleep medicine provides a number of comfortable, effective treatment options including custom-made oral appliances that don’t require the use of cumbersome continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices. A qualified sleep dentist can diagnose your sleep apnea symptoms and recommend the best treatment for your individual condition.

If you or a loved one experiences loud, chronic snoring or other sleep apnea symptoms, please contact IHateCPAP.com to locate a sleep dentist near you.

http://www.ihateheadaches.org/