Sleep apnea raises the risk of chronic illness and premature death by as much as 40% for middle-aged and older men, according to an article by a HealthDay reporter who summarizes the findings of a recent study. Even moderate sleep apnea was found to increase the risk of premature death by 17%. The study also showed that decreased levels of oxygen during sleep apnea are the cause of the health problems---such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke---and of premature death. Given the alarming findings of the decade-long study, the researchers stressed the need for physicians to pay attention to their patients' sleep patterns. A common condition, sleep apnea affects one in four men and one in ten women; symptoms include loud snoring, interrupted breathing, and interrupted sleep.
(See also results of a community-based study in western Australia, also summarized by HealthDay. During 14 years of follow-up, the people with moderate to severe sleep apnea were 33% more likely to have died by the end of that period. By mid 2010, results of a larger study by a Boston researcher were reported in an article in the L.A. Times: Moderate to severe sleep apnea increased "the risk of coronary heart disease or death by 68% in men under the age of 70." The researcher reported that "The take-away from our study is that obstructive sleep apnea is a serious condition that warrants medical treatment" and that "Many patients don't experience symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, such as daytime sleepiness, or if they do, they don't mention it during routine medical exams. It's important for anyone who suspects they have obstructive sleep apnea to discuss it with their primary care physician.")
