Snoring 'can raise cancer risk five-fold'

[FarCenter]

Snoring and other types of 'sleep disordered breathing', as it is known, can deprive the body of enough oxygen for hours at a time.

Scientists now believe having low blood oxygen levels can trigger the development of cancerous tumours, by promoting the growth of the vessels that feed them.

They say in future doctors could help people fight the disease by stopping them snoring.

Researchers in the US looked at cancer rates in more than 1,500 people, in a study of sleep problems that has been going for 22 years.

They found those with severe sleep disordered breathing (SDB) were 4.8 times more likely to develop cancer than those who had no such problems.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9278214/Snoring-can-raise-cancer-risk-five-fold.html

[Gregorian]

1. I'm just pulling out of ten years of obstructive problems.

I can attest to it being a killer. I've managed to keep my athletic state, but it was hell. I'm only barely coming out of it. I've abandoned the CPAP machine.

By doing facial exercises, sleeping on my stomach, and playing trumpet I've managed to change the muscles in my throat.

There are lots of sick people running around who don't know why. Sleep apnea is one of the reasons.

[randome]

5. For me, it's the shape of the back of my throat.

It creates a perfect wind tunnel effect. Otherwise, I'm in excellent health. But without a CPAP machine, I wouldn't be who I am today.

[Politicalboi]

2. I don't know about this

My mother is 85, and has snored her whole life. She has her problems here and there, but no cancer. There may be more to these people's genes than just snoring. My father died from emphysema, and he was also exposed to Asbestos. He snored right along with my mother for years. No cancer.

[shraby]

3. My dad too. Heavy duty snorer...lived to 91..no cancer.

[emilyg]

7. My step-dad - lived

to 93 - snored. No cancer.

[FarCenter]

4. The results are statistical and not deterministic

Heck, people smoke all their lives and never get lung cancer. My father was such a smoker.

Your odds of getting cancer are worse if you snore, although they don't know exactly why. The hypothesis is that your tissues have less oxygen supply and that encourages the growth of cancer cells.

[panader0]

6. As long as Jeannie keeps elbowing me in the back when I start to snore

I think I'll be okay. cirrhosis, that's a different story.



I think I'll be ok....

[Quixote1818]

8. Thanks for sharing this. nt

[Uben]

9. Wife had bad snoring problem, died in February

She always had irregular breathing at night, had a horrible snoring problem. She tried to get it fixed with nasal and throat surgery, and it helped a little, but she still snored till the end, and she never did breathe right during sleep. I wondered if the lack of oxygen would cause problems, and it appears it may have been her downfall. She died when her breast cancer returned after ten yrs.

My dad snored loudly, too. Died of cancer at age 63. Fortunately, I do not snore much....or so I'm told.