Health

Sleep apnea raises the risk of chronic illness and premature death by as much as 40% for middle-aged and older men, according to an article in HealthDay that summarizes the findings of a recent study. Even moderate sleep apnea was found to increase the risk of premature death by 17%. The study also showed that decreased levels of oxygen during sleep apnea are the cause of the health problems---such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke---and of premature death. Given the alarming findings of the decade-long study, the researchers stressed the need for physicians to pay attention to their patients' sleep patterns. A common condition, sleep apnea affects one in four men and one in ten women; symptoms include loud snoring, interrupted breathing, and interrupted sleep.

According to a Reuters article, a recent 4-year study in France of over 6,000 community-living elderly people determined that use of certain drugs increased these people's risk of falling. The study participants' average age was "nearly 74." Long-acting benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety drug), increased the risk, compared with short- and intermediate-acting benzodiazepines. Similar risks were reported among this age group for regular use of antispasmodics and muscle relaxants, tranquilizers, and a particular type of antihistamine (anticholinergics, which block nerve response).

If you've heard rumors and are concerned about about how healthcare reform might affect Medicare, check out this video from The PBS Newshour:

According to a study done over 12 to 14 years in the U.S. and summarized in a BBC article, smoking in mid-life increases one's chances of developing dementia. High blood pressure and diabetes also significantly increases one's chances of developing dementia. Similarly, another study done in the U.S. and summarized in a Reuters article determined that high cholesterol in study participants at ages 40 to 45 greatly increased those people's chances of developing Alzheimer's Disease or vascular dementia within 30 years. Researchers pointed out that changing behaviors and addressing risk factors, to help keep a healthy heart, seem to be important for people's brain health through their lives.