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Health risks associated with snoring can include effects on the brain
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Snoring could be a sign of a much more serious health condition, according to recent research. - photo by Kelsey Dallas
Chronic snorers might need to put aside their Breathe Right strips and schedule a doctor's appointment. Several recent articles and a new research study have highlighted health risks associated with snoring that often go unacknowledged.

"The big concern: obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which blocked airways cause people to stop breathing many times a night, disrupting sleep and cutting off oxygen to the body and brain," USA Today reported. "Untreated apnea can lead to high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity and diabetes and the sleepiness it causes can contribute to accidents at work and on the road."

Sleep apnea was also linked recently with dementia, because disrupted breathing has a negative impact on the brain, Time reported.

The study, published in the journal Neurology (paywall), found that people experiencing "sleep-disordered breathing" experienced cognitive decline earlier than people who sleep without making a peep.

Of the 2,000 people enrolled in the study, "those who reported having sleep apnea or snoring tended to develop signs of mild cognitive impairment, including memory lapses and slower speed on cognitive skills, about 12 years earlier than those who didn't report any sleep-disorder breathing," Time noted.

According to the Mayo Clinic, "as many as half of adults snore sometimes." Snoring's ubiquity is one reason why its association with serious health conditions is surprising, USA Today reported. Most people just think of it as a nuisance.

But even occasional snoring should be discussed with a doctor, said sleep medicine specialist Shalini Paruthi to USA Today. Medical professionals can schedule a sleep study and investigate whether the snorer is just noisy or suffers from a more serious condition.

"You should expect the doctor to take a full medical history, ask about the nature of your snoring including whether a bed partner ever hears you gasping for breath and ask about daytime sleepiness," Paruthi said.

Sleep apnea requires treatment with a CPAP machine or surgery, but solving regular snoring could be as simple as adjusting sleeping positions, losing weight or avoiding certain activities before bed, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.