The Cancer Revolution by Leigh Erin Connealy

Author:Leigh Erin Connealy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Da Capo Press
Published: 2017-01-10T05:00:00+00:00

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea afflicts an estimated 28 million Americans. This is a condition in which you either have pauses in your breathing or stop breathing for short periods throughout the night. There are two main types of apnea: central and obstructive. Central sleep apnea happens when your nervous system fails to activate your breathing muscles during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your airway collapses or is blocked during sleep.

A 2015 analysis of two independent studies associated sleep apnea with higher cancer incidence and premature death.4 This is probably because oxygen, which we know helps fight cancer, does not get to the apnea sufferer’s tissues and organs as easily or as much as it should.

If you wake up exhausted, your partner tells you that you snore, or you are exhausted and sleepy during the day, you may have apnea. You can do a test, either at home or in a sleep study clinic, to find out if you have this correctable condition. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, for instance, has sleep testing centers nationwide (see the Resources for more information). If you find that you have apnea and it is mild (and depending on the cause), you may be able to treat it by avoiding sleeping in certain positions, such as on your back; by avoiding taking sleep medications and alcohol; and if you are overweight, by losing weight.

If the apnea is more severe, your doctor may recommend CPAP therapy. “CPAP” stands for “continuous positive airway pressure.” For this, you wear a mask over your nose and/or mouth at night, while a machine delivers a continuous flow of air into your nose. The airflow keeps your airways open so your breathing stays regular. CPAP is the most common treatment for sleep apnea.

Depending on the cause of the apnea, you may also benefit from a special type of dental device that will keep your airway open during sleep, and which is designed by biological dentists who have special expertise in sleep apnea. For more information about where to find a good biological dentist, refer to the Resources section.

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