Recent evidence suggests that sleep problems increase the risk of metabolic syndrome, a set of medical conditions (e.g., high blood pressure, high cholesterol and abdominal obesity) that may cause cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Now a new study in the journal Internal Medicine finds that sleep disordered breathing (SDB) — for example, snoring and sleep apnea — is closely related to metabolic syndrome in cardiovascular patients. The study involved 195 patients with cardiovascular disease, 56 of whom had metabolic syndrome, who underwent assessments for sleep disordered breathing. The results showed that patients with metabolic syndrome were more than twice as likely as those without it to have sleep disordered breathing.

Dr. Claire Stagg is the owner of Holistic Dental Wellness Center in Indian Harbour Beach. For sleep solutions to snoring and sleep apnea or more information call 321-777-2797.