Are you feeling tired and worn down? There are numerous reasons why we sleep badly, from insomnia to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Regardless of the reason, lack of sleep or lack of quality sleep can make us unlikable people to be around, and continued lack of sleep has been linked to more serious problems like diabetes. Actually, difficulties sleeping often point to other underlying problems, even ones that seem to be unrelated to sleep — like impotence, for example.
For men, at least this seems to be an additional issue. A new study links sleeping disorders and sexual impotency. Specifically, the study looked into the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and erectile dysfunction. OSA afflicts more than 12 million Americans and is characterized by repeated stops and starts of breathing during sleep when throat muscles relax and block the airway. If left untreated, those with sleep apnea suffer from poor quality sleep and chronic sleep deprivation which can lead to health issues that can be life-threatening including weight gain, diabetes, and cardiovascular problems.
The study found that:
- Men with erectile dysfunction were more than twice as likely to have OSA than those without erectile dysfunction.
- The more severe the erectile dysfunction, the greater the likelihood of having OSA
- Men with erectile dysfunction should probably be screened for OSA
This is bad news for men, but somewhat of a break for women. Most studies show quite an inconsistency between the effects lack of sleep brings to men versus women. For instance, if a woman gets fewer than 8 hours of sleep, her risk for heart disease goes up, but men don’t seem to show such as great a risk of heart disease from lack of sleep. This link between OSA and erectile dysfunction is obviously a uniquely male problem and one that should be noted by men with either condition.
Getting a good night’s sleep can do a world of good for your whole body. Get screened for OSA and if you have OSA, make sure to use your CPAP machine, oral appliance or other prescribed treatment on a regular basis. In any case, everything you do, you do better with a good night’s sleep — everything.
Contact Dr. Abraham Katz at (703) 478-9574 today to schedule your Sleep Apnea Diagnostic appointment.
Dr. Abraham Katz also proudly serves Sterling, Reston, Ashburn, Wolf Trap, Chantilly, and surrounding areas.