Sleep apnea is a common disorder where breathing stops for short periods of time during sleep; about 5 per cent of Canadian adults over 45 experience it. (Photo: Simon Law, flickr.com)
People suffering from sleep apnea are not more likely to develop cancer, a new study shows.
Sleep apnea is a common disorder where breathing stops for short periods of time during sleep; about 5 per cent of Canadian adults over 45 experience it. Previous reports had hinted that the low blood oxygen levels brought on by sleep apnea tricked the body into producing more blood vessels, which could increase the growth of tumours.
The new study followed 10,149 Ontario patients over 15 years and found that low blood oxygen levels during sleep were not tied to cancer development.
Original research paper published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal on August 5, 2014.
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