Bad day for those with sleep apnea; 3 studies come out citing increased risks of diabetes, heart attacks and car crashes

It is believed that over 18 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). For those of you who don't know much about it, OSA is a debilitating and potentially life-threatening condition that affects that occurs when tissue in the upper airways blocks the breathing passages. The National Institute of Health estimates that 2 percent of women and 4 percent of men over the age of 35 have sleep apnea in conjunction with excessive daytime sleepiness. Healthy men, women and children of all ages may suffer from sleep apnea, but smoking and obesity are two high risk factors. Since people generally gain weight as they age, OSA is of particular concern for middle aged and older adults.

Highlighting the dangers of sleep apnea, just today LifeTwo received not one but three separate press releases from American Thoracic Society announcing new sleep apnea findings.

First, "Sleep Apnea may Increase Risk of Diabetes".

Researchers at the Yale University School of Medicine have found that patients with obstructive sleep apnea are at increased risk for developing of type II diabetes, independent of other risk factors.

Researcher Nader Botros, M.D., of Yale University said that although it is not known exactly what the link is between sleep apnea and diabetes, it is thought that sleep apnea activates the body’s fight-or-flight response. This triggers a cascade of events, including the production of high levels of the hormone cortisol that ultimately leads to insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, pre-diabetic conditions that, if left untreated, can lead to the development of diabetes. Low oxygen levels also appear to play an important role.

Second, Sleep Apnea Increases Risk of Heart Attack or Death by 30 percent

The nighttime breathing disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea increases a person’s risk of having a heart attack or dying by 30% over a period of four to five years.

The more severe the sleep apnea at the beginning of the study, the greater the risk of developing heart disease or dying, the study found.

Sleep apnea triggers the body’s “fight or flight” mechanism, which decreases the amount of blood pumped to the heart. Repeated episodes every night for a few years can starve the heart of enough oxygen when it is combined with the body’s decreased oxygen intake due to the frequent breathing stoppages during the night, said Yale researcher Naomi Shah.

Finally, "Sleep Apnea Patients Have Greatly Increased Risk Of Severe Car Crashes".

A study of 800 people with sleep apnea and 800 without the nighttime breathing disorder found that patients with sleep apnea were twice as likely as people without sleep apnea to have a car crash, and three to five times as likely to have a serious crash involving personal injury.

All three findings above are being presented at the American Thoracic Society 2007 International Conference.

External link for more information: SleepApneainfo.com