Summary
A study in the journal Nature Communications found that higher temperatures due to climate change increase the risk of sleep apnea. People are more likely to have sleep disruptions, especially when it's 80 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer.
Key Facts
- Sleep apnea is a condition where a person's breathing stops and starts during sleep.
- The study found that sleep apnea risk rises by almost 50% when temperatures are 80 degrees Fahrenheit or higher compared to the 50s.
- Severe sleep apnea cases, where people stop breathing more than 30 times in an hour, also increase by 40% in hotter weather.
- An estimated one billion people globally have sleep apnea, but it is often undiagnosed.
- Disrupted sleep from sleep apnea can impact mood, work ability, and health, potentially leading to heart attacks or strokes.
- The study analyzed two years of sleep data from over 125,000 people in 41 countries, using sensors under mattresses to track sleep patterns.
- The rise in sleep apnea was more significant in northern countries like Europe and Russia compared to the U.S., possibly due to less air conditioning.
- Climate change has increased global temperatures, making sleep problems worse, with further impacts expected as temperatures climb.
