Do Women with Sleep Apnea Have a Higher Risk of Cancer?

The Society for Women’s Health Research estimates that roughly 20% of women have sleep apnea, but the vast majority of them don’t even realize that they’re suffering from the disorder. Leaving sleep apnea undiagnosed and untreated for too long can be even more dangerous than you might think; in addition to depriving you of quality sleep, recent studies suggest it might even increase your risk of cancer! The following post explores how sleep apnea and cancer in women can be related.

What is the Link Between Sleep Apnea and Cancer?

A 2019 study published in the European Respiratory Journal reviewed data from 20,000 sleep apnea cases. Around 2% of patients involved with the study also had a cancer diagnosis. When examining the data, researchers found that the risk of cancer was 2 to 3 times higher in women.

It is thought that the connection between sleep apnea and cancer might be partially due to decreased blood oxygen levels. Sleep apnea involves frequent pauses in your breathing, causing the blood to not get enough oxygen. This may contribute to stress on the cellular level that could play a role in the development of certain kinds of cancers.

As of now, it is not clear why women with sleep apnea may have a higher risk of cancer compared to men. Nevertheless, the connection does serve as one of many reasons why sleep apnea needs to be identified and addressed as soon as possible.

How Will You Know If You Have Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea often results in loud snoring or gasping for air during sleep. Your partner or anyone else who sleeps nearby might be able to tell you if you’re suffering from these symptoms. Other warning signs include:

• Waking up with a dry mouth
• Having trouble staying asleep
• Feeling excessively drowsy during the day
• Having trouble paying attention
• Often feeling irritable

If any of the above symptoms sound familiar, you should reach out to a sleep dentist. Oftentimes, they can give you a take-home sleep test that can help determine whether or not you’re truly suffering from sleep apnea.

How Can Sleep Apnea Be Treated?

While CPAP therapy is currently the most common treatment for sleep apnea, many patients find that the machine is too noisy or uncomfortable for them. For this reason, sleep dentists often offer oral appliance therapy as an alternative. An oral appliance can keep your airway open without making any noise, and it can be customized to fit as comfortably as possible on your teeth.

Sleep apnea tends to grow worse over time, which is why seeking treatment quickly is so important. If you’re a woman who wants to avoid the long-term consequences of a sleep disorder, reach out to a sleep expert as soon as you have reason to think that you might have sleep apnea.

About the Author

Dr. Robert G. Dernick opened his first practice in The Woodlands in 1980. He has a reputation as one of the most caring, experienced, and skilled dentists in the area. Thanks to his studies in the field of sleep dentistry, he can help his patients enjoy better quality sleep with noninvasive oral appliance therapy. If you think you have sleep apnea, schedule a consultation with Dr. Dernick by visiting his website or calling (281) 783-3419.