Snoring May Accelerate Premature Aging

A study from Unifesp shows that sleep apnea accelerates the process, but the use of a breathing device alleviates the problem Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition where the airway is partially or completely blocked. Sleep is interrupted with frequent awakenings, resulting in excessive daytime sleepiness. The airway obstruction results in greater resistance, causing the snoring that we hear from the blockage. According to sleep medicine specialist and president of the Brazilian Sleep Association – Regional ES, Jessica Polese, "the pauses can last a few seconds or minutes, until the sleep awakenings occur, which harm health. This disorder can pose cardiovascular risks, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, and impair memory and concentration," explains the doctor. Another important disorder is the worsening of dementia cases, such as Alzheimer’s. A study conducted by the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp) showed that the problem can be alleviated with the use of CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) – a device attached to a mask that delivers air into the nose during sleep and regulates breathing. "Even though it is a device that sometimes bothers patients – some do not adapt – it is worth the effort, for the benefit it provides and now for this research result," observes Jessica. Our cells have telomeres – structures present at the ends of chromosomes that maintain the integrity of genetic material in the cell nucleus – and the decrease of these with aging is inevitable, as it is related to inflammation and oxidative stress of aging. However, the research showed that people with sleep apnea accelerate this process and that the use of CPAP reduces this acceleration. "Thus, it is obvious that a poorly slept night causes aging, and that the treatment of sleep apnea is valid," points out Jessica.