Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Prostate Cancer Linked to Poor Sleep

Friday, May 17, 2013

We can now add prostate cancer to the list of cancers that have been linked to sleep problems. Research keeps finding more and more links between poor sleep and other health issues.

This latest study looked at Icelandic men over the age of 67. Those that reported poor sleep patterns, trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, had about a 60% increase in their risk for prostate cancer compared to the group that did not report sleep disruptions.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that has been linked to several types of cancers. Researchers are still unsure about the how or why cancer and sleep are linked. For obstructive sleep apnea sufferers the link may have to do with the lack of oxygen suffered by the body throughout the night when they stop breathing during sleep. Other researchers feel that melatonin, the sleep hormone, may have a role to play.

If you have a bed partner that snores then you are also experiencing disrupted sleep which can cause physical harm over the long term. Loud snoring can be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea.

If you or your partner snore loudly throughout the night please contact us at 1-800-MORE-SLEEP to find out about oral appliance therapy to treat snoring and sleep apnea.

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