Sleep Apnea May Increase the Risk for Gout

Treatment for sleep apnea in McKinney

At McKinney Smiles, our team appreciates the benefits of a good night’s sleep. That’s why Dr. Lawrence offers treatment for sleep apnea in McKinney. Patients who experience nightly sleep apnea have a significantly higher risk for developing a range of chronic symptoms that include daytime drowsiness, morning headaches, irritability, problems concentrating and many more. Now a new study suggests that individuals who experience sleep apnea have a higher risk for developing gout.

In the study, conducted at Keele University in England, researchers examined data collected on almost 16,000 participants with sleep apnea and on over 63,000 participants without apnea. Both groups were followed for a median of nearly six years.

Researchers found that 4.9 percent of sleep apnea patients and 2.6 percent of the other group developed gout. Participants with sleep apnea were 42 percent more likely to develop gout when compared to those without the sleep disorder.

The risk for apnea patients was highest in the first two years after the sleep disorder was diagnosed, and was greater for patients with normal body weight than among those who were obese or overweight, reported the research team.

While the study did not conclusively prove the sleep apnea caused gout, it did show that an association existed.

The results of the study were published in the August issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.

Further Evidence Links Apnea to Poor Health

Gout is a form of arthritis that can cause significant discomfort due to a buildup of uric acid in the body. It causes joints in the body to become stiff, hot, swollen, and red.

After examining the data collected in their study, researchers determined that individuals with sleep apnea have both a short- and long-term risk for developing gout. Since individuals with a normal body mass index had the highest risk, researchers recommended that doctors and oral health professionals start considering warning and testing sleep apnea patients for their risk of gout regardless of the body mass index.

Researchers believe that periodic low oxygen levels caused by sleep apnea lead the body to overproduce uric acid, which causes the development of gout.

Early research has also shown that patients with sleep apnea have a higher risk for developing other significant health issues, including heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes. This makes sleep apnea a serious issue for the long-term health of millions of patients.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea in McKinney

When compared to heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, gout may not seem like as serious a health problem for sleep apnea patients. However, what this and other new research continues to show is just how interconnected sleep apnea is to a variety of systemic problems that can significantly damage the health of sleep disorder patients. Fortunately, Dr. Lawrence offers patients a variety of comfortable sleep apnea treatment options.

When it comes to treating sleep apnea, most patients may immediately think of uncomfortable CPAP machines. However, sleep apnea treatments have come a long way in recent years. NightLase offers Dr. Lawrence a remarkable technique he can use to provide improved strength and resilience to the throat tissue that collapses during sleep. Oral mouthpieces can gently adjust a patient’s jaw forward, helping to open the airway and prevent apnea from occurring at night.

Treatment for sleep apnea in McKinney no longer means having to sacrifice your comfort at night due to bulky machines. With the treatment options now available, dealing with sleep apnea has never been more convenient.

Don’t wait to get the quality night’s sleep you deserve. Contact our office today to schedule your sleep apnea consultation and get started down the path towards better sleep.