Air pollution may increase the incidence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a sleep disease in which breathing regularly stops and resumes, according to a recent study published in the journal International Neurotoxicology Association.
Although the study concludes that there is insufficient evidence, it does offer a number of logical explanations for the relationship between air pollution and the severity and risk of OSA.
Research indicates that long-term exposure to elevated air pollution levels might result in oxidative stress and systemic inflammation, which may precipitate or exacerbate upper airway dysfunction while you sleep.
“These pathophysiological changes are known to contribute to the development and exacerbation of respiratory disorders. In the context of OSA, air pollution may aggravate upper airway inflammation and dysfunction, thereby increasing the propensity for airway collapse during sleep,” the study reads.
“It is important to note that effects of air pollutants may vary based on the type of pollutant, duration of exposure, and individual susceptibility factors, including age, gender, and underlying health conditions,” it adds.
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