Sleep apnea isn't just about snoring loudly, the disorder may carry more serious health risks.
A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that some patients with sleep apnea have an increased risk of developing certain cancers, including those affecting the kidneys and breasts.
Researchers worked with 1,990 obstructive sleep apnea patients from the University of British Columbia Hospital between 2003 and 2014. A follow-up 12 years later showed that 181 (9%) of them developed cancer.
"OSA severity was significantly associated with cancer risk after controlling for relevant covariates," the study read.
Sleep apnea is a disorder wherein breathing stops and starts repeatedly during sleep, the Mayo Clinic explained.
About 39 million US adults have obstructive sleep apnea, according to data from the National Council on Aging.
According to Dr. Andrew Namen, a pulmonologist and a professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the airflow reduction during sleep is "cancer-promoting."
"The different oxygen molecules essentially change your DNA, and it becomes more cancer-promoting," Namen told WebMD.
A similar study in 2019 also had the same findings -- cancer incidence was 26% higher in those diagnosed with sleep apnea than in the general population.
Incidences of kidney, melanoma, and breast cancers were also higher.
A healthy lifestyle and maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce sleep apnea symptoms.
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