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Sleep Apnea Increases The Chances of Contracting #Cancer By Up To 68%
About 28 million people suffer from Sleep Apnea and the numbers of cases seem to be growing or it could be through education, more people are seeking medical treatments for sleep disorders.
During sleep, the muscles in the back of the throat relax causing the upper airway to become smaller. This is especially true during the deepest stages of sleep (called Rapid Eye Movement or REM sleep). In some individuals, the upper airway can actually collapse, causing a blockage of air movement into the lungs. When airflow is stopped for at least 10 seconds, it is referred to as apnea. These apneas can occur many times each hour and hundreds of times each night.
Apneas can cause several problems. Oxygen levels in the blood can drop to dangerous levels causing irregular heartbeats and increased blood pressure within the lungs. This stresses the heart and over time can result in damage to the heart.
As more and more people get diagnosed with Sleep Apnea they become more educated about some of the diseases and disorders that have been linked to the sleep disorder. Previous studies have linked Sleep Apnea to hypertension, cardiovascular disease, depression and a few others.
A recent study resulted in findings that linked severe sleep apnea to Cancer DEATHS. This is especially alarming as there are no specific forms of cancer that it has been linked to, only a link to Cancer of any form. The study states that Severe Sleep Apnea can increase Cancer Death by up 5 times compared to a person without the disorder. The preliminary thoughts are that contracting cancer, may have something to do with cells that have a deprived source of oxygen during the episode of Sleep Apnea.
There are a variety of treatments for Sleep Apnea, one treatment is the use of a CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure device. The goal of the CPAP is to use a mask and air pump to provide a continuous airflow during breath inhalation to prevent a collapse of the airway.
If you believe that you may be suffering from Sleep Apnea or any form of sleep disorder, it is important first and foremost to seek professional advice. If you have been diagnosed, talk to our specialist, they will aid in coming up with the best solution for your needs. Ask about our FREE CPAP Mask Fitting!
To find out more about Sleep Apnea and it’s relationship to Cancer take a look at the videos below. If you have any questions feel free to contact NBN Respiratory, your Cherry Hill New Jersey Respiratory SPECIALISTS! or call us at 856- 669- 0217.
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Sources:
- NBN Respiratory
- NY Times,
- University of Wisconsin-Madison,
- Medical News Today
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or #COPD: What You NEED To Know NOW!
The rate of diagnosed cases of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease , otherwise known as COPD is growing at an alarming rate. This quick growth has prompted various industries to quickly provide treatments and services in which to address the growing populations that suffer with this disease.
The number of Americans diagnosed with either asthma or COPD is increasing, and expected to reach 43.9 million by 2016
Diagnosing COPD
- One of The best tests for diagnosing COPD is a lung function test called spirometry. The test is created to test lung capacity and it involves blowing out as hard as possible into a small machine. The results of the test can be checked immediately. The spirometry does not involve participating in any exercises, extraction of blood, or exposure to radiation.
- The minimally invasive use of a stethoscope to listen to the lungs can also be an option. However, sometimes the lungs can sound perfectly normal even when the patient has COPD.
- Images from x-rays and CT scans of the lungs can be utilized as well. However, like the stethoscope exam the results may appear normal even when a person has COPD (especially chest x-ray).
- An additional option is overnight oximeter testing which can be administered by NBN Respiratory. Contact us for a consultation!
Causes of COPD
- Smoking is a big risk factor in the contraction of COPD and 85 – 90% of COPD related deaths are linked to smoking. So it is imperative that the first step in effective treatment of COPD is to stop smoking, because this can really CAN SLOW DOWN COPD SYMPTOMS.
- Additional risks that increase a persons chances of getting COPD is exposure to air pollution, second-hand smoke, occupational dusts and chemicals, heredity and a history of childhood respiratory infections.
Stages of COPD
There are four stages of COPD, all of which have different signs and symptoms. Take a look at the various stages of COPD in the images below.
Image Source COPDResearch.org
Treatment of COPD
COPD is a very serious condition but it is treatable! For the best result it is recommended that immediate and aggressive treatment be administered while in its earliest stages. Although there is no cure for COPD, there are a variety of things that can be done to prevent the disease from getting worse and to relieve the symptoms.
As stated above, it is imperative that the person with COPD stop smoking. This is the best way to slow down the lung damage.
Medications used to treat COPD include:
- Inhalers (bronchodilators) to open the airways, such as ipratropium (Atrovent), tiotropium (Spiriva), salmeterol (Serevent), formoterol (Foradil), or albuterol
- Inhaled steroids to reduce lung inflammation.
- Anti-inflammatory medications such as montelukast (Singulair) and roflimulast are sometimes used.
In severe cases or during flare-ups, the patient may need to receive:
- Steroids by mouth or through a vein (intravenously)
- Bronchodilators through a nebulizer
- Assistance during breathing from a machine (through a mask, BiPAP, or endotracheal tube)
- Oxygen therapy, read more about this option below.
During some COPD flare-ups infections may occur and cause complications so Antibiotics are prescribed during these symptom flare-ups.
You may need oxygen therapy at home if you have a low level of oxygen in your blood.
Pulmonary rehabilitation is also an option. It does not cure the lung disease, but it can teach the patient to breathe in a different manner which can aid the patient in staying active. Exercise is advisable as well, because it can help patients maintain muscle strength in their legs.
Walking is recommended and a great way to build up strength.
- The patient should consult their doctor or therapist to determine how far they should walk.
- The patient should slowly increase how far they walk.
- Patients should minimize talking while walking if they experience shortness of breath.
- Patients should use pursed lip breathing when breathing out (this will allow them to empty their lungs before the next breath)
Things that can be done around the home to make things easier:
- Avoid very cold air.
- Make sure the patients household remains smoke free.
- Make sure there is clean air within the patients living space by reducing air pollution. Elimination of fireplace smoke and other irritants is strongly advised.
Those with COPD should change their eating habits, consume a healthy diet with an abundance of fish, poultry, or lean meat and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. If there is a problem maintaining optimum weight, the patient should talk to a doctor or dietitian about an increase in calorie intake.
Surgery can be an option as well, but only a few patients benefit from these surgical treatments:
- Surgery to remove parts of the diseased lung can help other areas (areas that are not as diseased) This may work better in some patients with emphysema.
- Lung transplant may be an option for severe cases of COPD.
As stated above, there are a variety of options available in the treatment of COPD. So speaking with a professional to explore all available options is strongly suggested.
NBN Respiratory specializes in the treatment of chronic and acute respiratory ailments. NBN Respiratory can assist with treatment of COPD and other respiratory ailments with nebulizer supplies, nebulizer medications, oxygen, oxygen travel supplies and more.
In addition to supplies and medications, NBN Respiratory works with The Better Breathers Club to help patients with respiratory diseases cope with their difficulties. The Better Breathers Club is run by respiratory therapists, asthma educators, and pharmacists that have completed the NCPA approved respiratory care certificate program.
NBN Respiratory can create a custom plan to fit you needs. If you want to know more about what NBN Respiratory can to do help manage your COPD, contact us now 856- 669-0217!
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