NYC Sleep Doctors Discuss How Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Can Reduce Cancer and Heart Risk

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most serious sleep disorders we treat at New York Sleep-Wake Center. It occurs when your airways become blocked during sleep and as a result your breathing literally stops for 10- to 30-second periods. This commonly results in disturbed sleep and sleep deprivation, both of which impair your mental and physical capacities. But OSA also results in hypoxia (inadequate oxygen supply), which is more serious because it greatly increases your risk of cancer, stroke, and death.

According to NYC sleep doctors, OSA can be successfully treated in our Manhattan Vein Specialists through the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP devices consist of a mask that covers the face or nose, through which a flow of pressurized air is blown into the throat. This air flow holds the patient's airways open, and in many cases brings the symptoms of OSA under control.

More important – and the real reason for this article – CPAP treatment for OSA is being increasingly shown to reduce – and in some cases reverse – the risk of conditions associated with obstructive sleep apnea.

Studies reveal the dangers of OSA

Studies performed by sleep experts continue to reveal more of the dangers of obstructive sleep apnea every year. A 2010 study, for example, found that the inadequate supply of oxygen that characterizes OSA increases tumor growth, resulting in a 4.9 times higher incidence of cancer mortality.

A study performed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea is strongly associated with an increased risk of cancer, stroke, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and death. Results of the 20-year follow-up study show that people with OSA were four times more likely to die of all causes, nearly four times more likely to have a stroke, three times more likely to die from cancer, and 2.5 times more likely to develop cancer.

Interestingly, treating OSA with CPAP reduces or reverses these risks

The newest studies indicate that CPAP treatment used to control the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea seem to have a positive influence on reducing and even reversing the risks of developing these related diseases. One such study shows that the use of CPAP reduces the need for hospitalization in people with OSA, and other studies have indicated that CPAP can reduce the risk of conditions such as heart disease, arrhythmias, stroke, hypertension, and insulin-dependent diabetes. In other trials, treating OSA with CPAP was shown to lower blood pressure, reverse signs of early atherosclerosis, and, in patients with heart failure, improve cardiac function.

So if you suffer from sleep apnea – or suspect you do – call us

In either case, your best solution is to seek assistance from one of the best sleep centers in NYC. Our NYC sleep apnea specialists have years of experience dealing with sleep disorders such as OSA, and will work with you to find solutions that will improve your sleep quality. As you've read in this article, that phone call to 646-233-1838 might pay off for you in other ways as well, but reducing your likelihood of developing serious diseases.

Author Bio: The writer is an expert in the field of Spider & vein treatments specialist in Manhattan Vein Specialists and NYC Sleep Apnea Specialist.