More than 90% of sleep apnea cases are obstructive sleep apnea. Snoring, acid reflux (also known as GERD), and dry throat are common symptoms of sleep apnea. New research indicates that sleep apnea can also increase the risk of many other health problems.
Conditions such as obesity, smoking, and heavy alcohol consumption can lead to sleep apnea. Dr. Kevin Postol, a dentist from the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, stated that these patients might experience excessive daytime sleepiness. Additionally, some sleep apnea patients who suffer from sleep deprivation also have an increased risk of depression and mood disorders.
A new study published in "MedicalNewsToday" reported on three new studies presented at the 2022 European Respiratory Society International Congress, which indicate that sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of cancer, cognitive decline, and blood clots.
3 Major Harms of Sleep Apnea
A study on the correlation between sleep apnea and cancer, involving 2,000 patients with obstructive sleep apnea, indicated that obstructive sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of cancer. However, researchers emphasized that "it is not yet understood whether sleep apnea directly causes cancer or if it is linked to other cancer risk factors such as heart disease and obesity."
Furthermore, a second study followed 358 individuals aged 65 and older for 5 years and found that sleep apnea was associated with cognitive decline in people over 74 and in men. Researchers found a significant correlation between low blood oxygen levels and impaired memory and cognitive abilities.
Finally, a third study followed 7,000 participants for over 6 years and found that 104 people developed blood clots. Researchers discovered that obstructive sleep apnea might be linked to an increased risk of blood clots. However, the researchers stated that the aforementioned studies only focused on related risks and could not yet determine the causal relationship.
Dr. Liu Wen-Te, Director of the Sleep Center at Shuang Ho Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan, stated that the decline in cognitive abilities and increased risk of blood clots associated with sleep apnea might be related to hypoxia during sleep and repeated awakenings.
He explained that during sleep, the brain uses this time to consolidate new information learned during the day into long-term memory. Therefore, if sleep apnea causes continuous sleep interruption, it can easily lead to difficulty in remembering things.
Furthermore, hypoxia can cause vasoconstriction in the lungs, preventing blood from flowing upwards, which can lead to pulmonary hypertension and impaired blood return, making plaque formation more likely. However, Dr. Liu Wen-Te also stated that further research is needed to explore the causal relationship of the aforementioned studies.
Original URL: Sleep Apnea｜Does sleep interruption affect memory? 3 harms to cognitive abilities that seniors should be aware of | Hong Kong 01 https://www.hk01.com/article/833089?utm_source=01articlecopy&utm_medium=referral