Posted on 09/05/2022 4:50:37 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
People who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at an increased risk of cancer, according to a large study.
A second study showed that OSA was linked to a decline in processing powers in the elderly. A third study found that patients with more severe OSA were at greater risk of developing blood clots in their veins.
OSA is a common sleep disorder whereby people experience partial or complete obstruction of their airways during sleep and stop breathing several times a night. People who are overweight or obese, have diabetes, or who smoke or consume large amounts of alcohol are most at risk of OSA.
"We found that patients with cancer had slightly more severe OSA, as measured by an apnea hypopnea index average of 32 versus 30, and an oxygen desaturation index of 28 versus 26," he said. "In further analysis of subgroups, ODI was higher in patients with lung cancer (38 versus 27) prostate cancer (28 versus 24) and malignant melanoma (32 versus 25)."
In a second presentation, Dr. Nicola Marchi showed that OSA was linked to a greater decline in mental processing powers over a period of five years.
Dr. Marchi says that they "found that OSA and low oxygen levels during sleep due to OSA was associated with a greater decline in global cognitive function, processing speed, executive function and verbal memory."
A third study, presented by Professor Wojciech Trzepizur, showed patients with more severe OSA, as measured by AHI and markers of nocturnal oxygen deprivation, were more likely to develop venous thromboembolism (VTE).
"We found that those who spent more than 6% of their night-time with levels of oxygen in their blood below 90% of normal had an almost two-fold risk of developing VTEs as compared to patients without oxygen deprivation," said Professor Trzepizur.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
I was diagnosed with OSA in 2002 - sleep study technician at WRAMC said I had the worst case of OSA he had ever seen!
Got my CPAP two days later, been using it nightly ever since then, and it has, literally, saved my life!
My advice: don’t wait until you fall asleep at the wheel while driving to get tested for OSA!
Until I wrecked my big Caddie one night after falling asleep (mercifully [Guardian Angel, anyone?] both big Caddie and Taxman survived the “incident!”), I was in denial about OSA!
If you snore, get up several times a night to pee, and if you do not feel rested in the AM, GET TESTED FOR OSA!
AND, if you are diagnosed with OSA, and need a CPAP, USE IT!
CPAPs work!
Thanks.
BKMK
I very much believe that intervention saved your life.
Beautiful story!
Thanks! As in a “Guardian Angel!”
I hope that one or more FReepers with OSA read my post and are motivated to get tested.
If someone you know has OSA, an overnight test and a CPAP WILL save their life!
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