You’ve got a lot on your plate. What with work, family, and social obligations, it can be a lot for anyone to handle. Couple that with illnesses like cancer, dementia, or heart disease, and it can be disastrous. Couple that with not sleeping, and it can be even worse. Now, a new study has found that patients who suffer from cancer, dementia, and blood clots may be at a higher risk for another condition: obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA.Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the airway becomes obstructed during sleep, causing the patient to struggle to breathe. This often leads to gasping for air and stopping and restarting breathing throughout the night. It also can lead to snoring, or what sounds like snoring (the gasping for air) and waking symptoms like cognitive impairment, anxiety, and depression.Obstructive sleep apnea is more common in men over the age of 50 who are overweight or obese, but it can affect anyone of any age, including children.The study was presented at the European Respiratory Society’s 2022 International Congress in Barcelona, Spain recently, and while there was already a known link between obstructive sleep apnea, cancer, and dementia, blood clots is a somewhat new revelation.While it is unknown whether these conditions are caused by the obstructive sleep apnea, or the obstructive sleep apnea is a side effect of the conditions, it is certainly concerning, and researchers have long recommended patients with these conditions be screened for obstructive sleep apnea.If you have obstructive sleep apnea, or suspect you may, speak to your physician about sleep solutions that could help lessen the severity of your apnea symptoms, but also may help reduce symptoms of other illnesses, by increasing blood oxygen levels as you sleep.If you suffer from blood clots, dementia, or cancer, it may also be in your best interest to be screened for sleep apnea.If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea and are looking for a solution to your prescribed CPAP therapy, Dr. Peterson can help. Dr. Peterson offers custom sleep orthotics that are designed to specifically fit your individual mouth, allowing the airway to be propped open without the use of forced air, such as is used with CPAP therapy.To learn more about sleep orthotics from Dr. Peterson, please contact the office for a consultation appointment today.