Sleep problem that affects 10million people in UK could trigger world's deadliest cancer, first-of-its-kind study warns
HEAVY snorers could be at risk of the world's deadliest cancer, a shock new study has revealed.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has previously been linked to an increased risk of certain cancers.
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Now, in a world-first trial, a "significant" link has been found between the condition and lung cancer.
US researchers, who assessed the health records of more than 2.4 million adults, say they're not exactly sure why it raises the risk.
But they believe it could be due to a lack of oxygen people with the condition get during the night - or lifestyle factors such as smoking and obesity.
The findings were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago.
Scientists present urged policymakers to consider screening those with OSA for the cancer, and to tackle the condition early, soon after diagnosis.
Globally, an estimated 936 million adults aged 30-69 years are affected by OSA.
The condition occurs when the muscles in the throat relax too much during sleep, causing the airway to narrow or close, interrupting breathing.
This can happen due to several factors, including obesity, a large neck or collar size, structural abnormalities like a small lower jaw or a large tongue, and other medical conditions.
Common symptoms include breathing stopping and starting, making gasping, snorting or choking noises, waking up a lot, and loud snoring, says the NHS.
According to the Sleep Apnoea Trust, as many as 10 million people in the UK suffer from OSA – with up to four million of these suffering either severely or moderately - although it's considered to be underdiagnosed.
I'm a doctor and these 5 changes could be a sign of deadly lung cancer
It's important to note while snoring is a common symptom of OSA, it's not a guaranteed sign.
In the study, researchers at Marshall University in West Virginia tracked lung cancer diagnoses and separated those diagnosed with OSA and those without.
After accounting for different influential factors, such as age, people with OSA were found to be 1.21 times more likely to develop lung cancer compared to those without the sleep disorder.
Dr Jowan Al-Nusair, study co-author and physician at Marshall University told MailOnline it was "one of the first statistically significant studies" to prove a link between the condition and lung cancer.
She added: "While further studies are definitely now needed to investigate just how the significant the link truly is, this suggests OSA may be a preventable risk factor for lung cancer.
"We should be more closely monitoring patients with OSA. Patients would definitely benefit from screening and early intervention to combat OSA.
"Additional studies are essential to understand exactly why OSA may increase this risk.
"We really hope this will pave the way for future research and testing."
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide.
In the UK, around 35,000 people die from lung cancer each year.
The primary cause of lung cancer is tobacco smoke, accounting for the vast majority of cases.
But lung cancer cases are now rising among young people who have never smoked, with some experts attributing this to factors like air pollution.
Do you have obstructive sleep apnoea?
Sleep apnoea is when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep.
The most common type is called obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
Sleep apnoea needs to be treated because it can lead to more serious problems.
Symptoms mainly happen while you're asleep, they include:
breathing stopping and starting
making gasping, snorting or choking noises
waking up a lot
loud snoring
During the day, you may also:
feel very tired
find it hard to concentrate
have mood swings
have a headache when you wake up
It can be hard to tell if you have sleep apnoea.
It may help to ask someone to stay with you while you sleep so they can check for the symptoms.
If a GP thinks you might have sleep apnoea, they may refer you to a specialist sleep clinic for tests.
Source: NHS
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