According to new research, asthma may be an identifying risk
factor for obstructive
sleep apnea (OSA), a potentially deadly sleep disorder that affects tens of
millions of Americans of all ages.
University of Wisconsin researchers have been reviewing data
from the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study, which has followed about 1,500
participants since 1988. They found that patients with asthma were nearly twice
as likely to have developed sleep apnea during the eight-year follow-up review;
the number was even higher among those who developed asthma as children.
While previous studies have shown that OSA is more common
among people with asthma, no other research had focused the progression of the
potential relationship between sleep apnea and asthma. The University of
Wisconsin of Wisconsin study indicates that the duration of asthma also
impacted individual chances for developing sleep apnea.
Although research has not yet established the precise link
between asthma and obstructive sleep apnea, the study is ongoing and the
association between asthma and sleep apnea provides another diagnostic tool.
Other known risk
factors of obstructive sleep apnea include:
- Obesity
- Narrow airway
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Family history of sleep apnea
If you or a family member suffers from nightly snoring and other symptoms of sleep
apnea, it’s important to schedule an appointment with a knowledgeable
doctor. If not treated, obstructive sleep apnea can increase your risk for
heart attack, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia and stroke among other problems.
Please contact I Hate CPAP today to get answers to your sleep apnea questions and to locate a qualified physician near you.