Untreated OSA May Pose Significant Public Health Risk
SLEEP APNEA LINKED TO FASTER CANCER GROWTH
Researchers have found evidence that the intermittent interruption in breathing that occurs in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may cause greater proliferation of cancer cells, increased tumor growth, and more aggressive cancers.
OSA is a disorder in which patients regularly stop breathing for short periods during sleep, and it may affect as many as five percent of Americans, raising the risk of cardiovascular disease and lung problems.
Previous research had shown an association between continuous hypoxia, or shortness of oxygen, and cancer growth, but it was not known until now whether the intermittent hypoxia of OSA had the same effect. It is worth noting that the research focused only on melanoma cancer. The team suggested that if further research confirms these results or worse, finds that the interruption in breathing can actually cause cancer in OSA patients in the first place, it will mean that the public health impact of untreated OSA may be far greater than ever suspected.
This study was presented today, May 18, 2011 in Denver at the international conference of the American Thoracic Society. It has not yet been published or posted online.
The Magic 7 – Sleep & Cardiovascular Risk
A recent study shows that even among healthy people who regularly get five hours or less sleep a night have more than double the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Also, people who regularly get nine or more hours of sleep a night have a greater than fifty percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Perhaps more surprising, people who get six or eight hours sleep also have a higher – but far less dramatic – increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
The study advised that seven hours sleep per night, not six or eight or anything more extreme, was the ideal regular sleep period for cardiovascular health.
But how could sleep period affect heart health?
The researchers suggested that shorter sleep times can cause “impaired glucose tolerance, reduced insulin sensitivity, increased sympathetic [nerve] activity and elevated blood pressure,” all of which increase the risk of hardening of the arteries.
Longer sleep duration may be related to an underlying sleep-related breathing disorder or poor sleep quality.
This study was published in the August 1, 2010 issue of the journal, Sleep. It is available online with a subscription to the journal or a membership the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
For deep, restful sleep, try Z-Caps! http://www.advantig.net/products/z-caps
