Whether you call it “No Shave November” or just “Movember,” chances are you and your co-workers or buddies are sporting more facial hair than usual. While this phenomenon started off as a fun competition among the guys, some people have seen it as an opportunity to bring attention to the top health concerns for men:
Heart Disease
This is the leading cause of death for men in the United States, according to the CDC. Bad diet, lack of exercise and smoking are often the culprits. But did you know that sleep apnea also contributes to heart disease? Because you repeatedly stop breathing throughout the night, your blood and heart aren’t getting the oxygen they need to function healthfully. Lack of sleep can also lead to weight gain, which is also hard on your heart.
Cancer
Coming in at the second-highest killer of men, cancer accounts for 23.5 percent of male deaths each year. Once again, sleep apnea can be tied to this cause of death. Those with sleep apnea are 4.8 times more likely to develop malignant tumors than those who do not have the condition. This is because consistent lack of air at night triggers a number of mechanisms in the body, one of which encourages cancer growth.
Unintentional Injuries
Men are far more prone than women to die from unintentional injuries. Many of these are due to on-the-job mistakes and accidents. Insufficient sleep at night can contribute to workplace injuries. If you find yourself dealing with excessive daytime drowsiness that’s impacting your effectiveness at your job, you might have sleep apnea. For those who work in dangerous lines of work, it’s especially important to address this condition right away, before a deadly accident occurs.
As we’ve seen from the examples above, three of the top causes of death for men in the United States can be tied back to sleep apnea. If you think you may have this condition, see your doctor right away and arrange for a sleep test. Should the tests come back positive, CPAP Central can help you. We carry a full line of sleep apnea therapy products, including BiPAP Machines, CPAP Machines and CPAP supplies.