Aug. 1, 2008 -- Suffering from sleep apnea may do more than just spoil a good night's sleep. A new study shows that people with severe sleep apnea may be up to three times more likely to die prematurely, and that risk increases if the sleep disorder is left untreated.

Sleep apnea is a common sleeping disorder that causes frequent pauses in breathing during sleep and is often accompanied by snoring. About 6% of adults in the U.S. suffer from moderate to severe forms of the condition, and 17% have less severe forms.

In the study, researchers followed more than 1,500 adults for 18 years who had been screened for sleep apnea at the start of the study. The results showed that about 19% of those with severe sleep apnea died during the follow-up period compared with only 4% of those without sleep apnea.

Researchers found the risk of premature death increased as the severity of sleep apnea increased, but findings suggested protection from risk of death with proper treatment of sleep apnea, such as the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to keep airways open during sleep and prevent pauses in breathing.

When those who used CPAP regularly to treat their sleep apnea were excluded from the analysis, the risk of death was 3.8 times greater for those with for untreated sleep apnea.

"I was surprised by how much the risks increased when we excluded people who reported treatment with CPAP," researcher Terry Young, PhD, professor of epidemiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, says in a news release. "Our findings suggest -- but cannot prove -- that people diagnosed with sleep apnea should be treated, and if CPAP is the prescribed treatment, regular use may prevent premature death."

Sleep Apnea Death Risk

In the study, published in Sleep, researchers followed a random sample of 1,522 men and women between the ages of 30 and 60 who participated in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study.

The participants spent one night at a sleep laboratory under observation and were screened for sleep apnea. Those diagnosed with sleep apnea were divided into groups according to the severity of their condition, as defined by the average number of breathing pauses and sleep disruptions during sleep.

During 18 years of follow-up, 80 people died. The overall risk of death during the study period was 3.2 times higher among those with severe sleep apnea compared with those without sleep apnea at baseline, after adjusting for other risk factors such as age, sex, and body mass index.

The link between sleep apnea and heart-related death was especially strong. About 42% of the deaths in people with severe sleep apnea were due to heart disease, and the risk of heart-related death was more than five times higher among those with untreated severe sleep apnea compared with those without sleep apnea.

Five Natural Remedies to Stop Snoring

Here's a classic one-liner: The wife says to her husband: "Do you know that snoring causes a lack of sleep? MINE!" Snoring is the butt of many jokes, but it's no laughing matter to the millions of adults who snore and the people who love them.

An estimated 45% of normal adults snore at least occasionally and 25% do so habitually, according the American Academy of Otolaryngology. Problem snoring is more common in men and in people who are overweight. And snoring usually gets worse with advancing age.

"Snoring is incredibly prevalent and people joke about it, yet it can create serious problems within the family," says Mark Mahowald, MD, director of the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center and a past president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. "Many couples can't sleep in the same room because of snoring."

Buyers should beware before purchasing over-the-counter sprays and pills that promise to stop snoring, Mahowald warns. "There are all sorts of sprays, pills and tablets that claim to make snoring better, but I have yet to see any validation by scientific studies to support those claims," he says.

Fortunately, there are lifestyle changes and natural remedies that can help you stop snoring.

1. Change your sleep position.

Snoring occurs when the soft palate, uvula, tongue, tonsils and/or muscles in the back of the throat rub against each other and generate a vibrating sound during sleep.

So, at first, snoring "occurs only when you are lying on your back [and] your tongue falls back and increases airway resistance," Mahowald explains. That's why some folk remedies called for sewing tennis balls on the back of pajamas, he says.

"If you are one of these snorers, sleeping on your sides will usually help" you stop snoring, Mahowald tells WebMD.

You may also want to try raising the head of your bed 4 inches, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology. To do this, place blocks or a wedge under the head of the mattress.

However, as snoring progresses, it can occur when you are sleeping on your side or with your head elevated. Eventually, snoring can become present all night and at all positions. Then, it's time to examine your lifestyle.

2. Lose 10% of your body weight to help stop snoring.

Overweight people tend have bulky neck tissue which increases snoring risk. If you are overweight, losing just modest amount of weight - even just 10% of your body weight -- can help you stop snoring, Mahowald says.

3. Avoid alcohol and sedatives to stop snoring.

"Anything that causes sedation such as sleeping pills or low dose alcohol can also cause snoring because they tend to suppress your breathing drive," says Robert W. Clark, MD, medical director of the Regional Sleep Disorders Center at the Columbus Community Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

If you snore because you have a couple of drinks or a sedative at night, either cut back or cut it out altogether, he advises.

4. Inhale steam before bed to stop snoring.

Nasal congestion can often cause snoring. Clarke suggests you try to reduce congestion before bedtime by deep breathing steam through your nose.

"Steam vaporizers are worth their weight in gold," says Clarke. "And so is running hot water, putting a towel over your head and inhaling steam to loosen mucus-causing congestion."

5. Try nasal strips to stop snoring.

Studies show that nasal strips can provide temporary relief from congestion and may also help some people stop snoring.

"It's easier to breathe when your nostrils are open wide, so nasal strips, which are worn on the nose, can help if snoring is coming from your nose," Mahowald says. The catch? Most often snoring stems from base of tongue or soft palate -- not the nose.