{"id":1054,"date":"2020-01-30T20:51:29","date_gmt":"2020-01-30T20:51:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/blog\/?p=1054"},"modified":"2021-01-27T18:45:46","modified_gmt":"2021-01-27T18:45:46","slug":"smoking-hazards-and-sleep-apnea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/30\/smoking-hazards-and-sleep-apnea\/","title":{"rendered":"Diving into the Connection Between Smoking & Sleep Apnea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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One of the most common New Year\u2019s resolutions is people promising themselves, or their loved ones, that they will finally quit smoking. And it\u2019s a commendable endeavor, as we have all heard about the health risks of smoking, including heart disease and lung cancer. But did you know that smoking is a risk factor for sleep apnea, too? <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Correlation Between Smoking & Sleep Apnea<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In a <\/a>study<\/a> published by The Journal of the American Medical Association\u2014Internal Medicine<\/em>, a test group who identified as current smokers were much more likely to have moderate or worse obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) symptoms compared to the test group of individuals who had never smoked. Heavy smokers in the study displayed the greatest risk for sleep-disordered breathing. One silver lining is that the study showed that former smokers were not at an increased risk for sleep-disordered breathing, so quitting smoking can decrease an individual\u2019s risk for developing the condition.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secondhand Smoke<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Smoke can also affect the sleep apnea severity of non-smokers in a home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One study<\/a> published by The International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology looked at children ages three to 18 to assess the association between exposure to secondhand smoke and obstructive sleep apnea severity. Overall, 167 children were studied; 70 had severe OSA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the subgroup of children studied with severe OSA, median AHI (apnea hypopnea index, which measures the number of cessations in breathing per hour) was significantly higher in secondhand-smoke exposed children compared to non-exposed children, but not across all children. In multivariable analysis, secondhand smoke exposure increased AHI by 48% in the severe OSA subgroup when adjusted for race, body mass index, and adjusted household income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this study was limited and more research is needed, it is a definitive step in understanding the relationship between childhood sleep apnea and secondhand smoke. It seems that regardless of age or proximity to smoking, being around cigarette smoke can worsen obstructive sleep apnea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Smoking Can Increase the Risk For Sleep Apnea <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Commonly suggested reasons<\/a> that explain how smoking may cause\/worsen OSA include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n