Obstructive sleep apnea can cause diabetes

Obstructive sleep apnea is now as common as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease and can lead to all of these if untreated, say experts. It has been observed that more than 53 per cent sleep apnea suspects are already suffering from either diabetes or high blood pressure but remain unaware of sleep apnea. In such a scenario, there is a critical need for effective treatment and management of sleep apnea.

"When a person sleeps at night, the muscles in the air passage collapse and the airways on the windpipe become narrow. Hence, it does not provide enough air for lungs and breathing gets affected and sometimes blocks the breath, which is called apnea. It basically affects people at the age of 30 to 40 above. Sleep apnea ultimately leads to increase the risk factors of diabetes like obesity and blood pressure as the body's reaction to sleep loss can resemble insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes", said a Dr. of Sleep Science.

Sleep apnea affects children from age 4 causing enlargement in tonsils, snoring and obesity risk factors, which is responsible for the rise in incidence of diabetes at a young age. The complications among the diabetes patients may affect the heart, kidney and respiratory tract. Inadequate sleep not only disturbs emotional health but can cause drowsiness, concentration loss, stress in short-term and hypertension, cardiac disorders and sudden death in the long term.

People with sleep apnea tend to eat more for the energy needs of the body, leading to consuming sugar or other foods that can spike blood sugar levels. Reduced sleep can lead to insulin resistance, when cells fail to use the hormone efficiently, resulting in high blood sugar, leading to diabetes.

"Though sleep apnea seems to be a little uncommon in India, it is mostly because 70 to 80 per cent of people with the disease are still unaware of it. The incidences have increased in last 15 years and its risk factors are worsening the public health. Precautions can be taken by quitting smoking, reducing intake of alcohol, maintaining hygiene etc", said a Dr. 

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Sunlight can help control asthma symptoms

Exposure to sunlight provides Vitamin D which can help control symptoms of severe asthma as people affected with asthma are low on immunity, say experts.

"Asthma patients have very low immunity and deficiency of Vitamin D, so exposure to sunlight helps building their immunity," a pulmonologist said.

Asthma is caused by inflammation of the air passages in the lungs. Vitamin D helps in reducing the inflammation.

A new study by a team of scientists at King's College London also revealed the fact that Vitamin D, which is made by the body in sunlight, calms an "overactive" part of the immune system in asthma.

Adding to the study, the experts here pointed out that the new study examines the role of molecules that cause this malfunctioning of the immune response.

"The research examined whether Vitamin D had an effect on the levels of the molecule produced by white blood cells in a laboratory experiment. It was found that Vitamin D reduced the levels of the specific harming molecules produced by cells from people with asthma," said a chest specialist.

He said, "Patients treated for asthma are on inhaled corticosteroids - ICS. The ICS have side effects - they reduce the levels of Vitamin D in the body, hence all doctors treating asthma give vitamin D supplements to the patients."

As the study is under clinical trial, once completed the experts are hopeful that the sunshine vitamin will work for treating asthma which has been on the rise in the country.

"With pollution levels continuing to rise there has been a 20 to 30 per cent rise in asthma cases in our country," he said.

A consultant pulmonologist,  said that pollution has no direct link to asthma but the pollutants present in the air like diesel fumes and suspended particulate matter have led to increase in symptoms of asthma.

"Asthma can be controlled with proper medication on time. Inhalers are the best form of treatment for asthma. Timely vaccination for flu and pneumcoccal vaccination will help prevent from viral and bacterial infections," he added.

Children are found to be the most affected with this chronic disease.

"There has been a substantial rise in asthma among children, so it is important that parents give children inhalers, as this helps in controlling asthma," a consultant pulmonologist said.
Experts say that a lot of myths are associated with inhaler use because parents believe that they are not good for kids as they contain steroids and other drugs that can stunt their growth.

"Though inhalers are important, but it is not the last resort. Inhalers are usually given by the pulmonologist/treating physicians for immediate and emergency use," he added.

Experts said that many people are not aware that the problem can be controlled.

"Asthma is controllable but not curable. Patients suffering from asthma can only control this problem. They have to make lifestyle modifications and have to religiously follow the medication routine." THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.

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