Named the non-obvious cause of stopped breathing during sleep

Scientists from the University of Milano-Bicocca have discovered that polluted air can worsen the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea - a condition in which a person's breathing periodically stops during sleep. This was reported by the European Respiratory Society (ERS).

The study involved more than 19,000 patients from 25 cities in 14 European countries. Their data were compared with the levels of PM10 particulate matter in the air, which is produced by transportation and industry. Scientists found that with just a one-unit increase in PM10 concentration, the number of episodes of breathing cessation or reduction during sleep (apnea and hypopnea) increases by an average of 0.41 times per hour.

"The effect may seem insignificant for an individual, but at the population level, this means thousands of people are moving into a more severe disease category," explained study leader Professor Martino Pengo.

The strongest relationship between air pollution and severity of apnea symptoms was observed in Paris, Lisbon, and Athens. In other cities, this connection was weaker or absent altogether.

Experts emphasize that the results of the study have great significance for medicine.

"When treating sleep apnea, it's important to consider not only the patient's age, weight, and lifestyle, but also environmental factors. Fighting air pollution is not just a contribution to ecology but also a way to improve health and sleep quality," noted Professor Sofia Schiza from the University of Crete.