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.