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You\u2019re probably aware of many of the symptoms associated with sleep apnea. Such as being tired, drowsiness, weight gain and more.<\/p>\nYou\u2019re probably aware of many of the symptoms associated with sleep apnea. Such as being tired, drowsiness, weight gain and more.<\/p>\n
But the scariest symptom probably comes as a total surprise.<\/p>\n
You see, if associated with another common disease, sleep apnea can destroy your eye retina, leading to rapid blindness within 4 years.<\/p>\n
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that involves damage to your retina because of the high blood sugar level.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the leading cause of blindness in the world\u2014usually within 4 years of onset.<\/p>\n
A new study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine<\/em> now shows that diabetes is not the only risk factor for diabetic retinopathy.<\/p>\n People who struggle with sleep apnea on top of their type 2 diabetes are almost twice as likely to develop it than people who suffer from diabetes alone.<\/p>\n The scientists at the University of Birmingham<\/em> recruited 230 diabetics from two diabetes clinics.<\/p>\n They first used retinal imaging to discover which of their subjects had diabetic retinopathy and then tested everyone for sleep apnea.<\/p>\n They continued these examinations periodically over three years and seven months.<\/p>\n While 24% of diabetics without sleep apnea developed diabetic retinopathy, a full 42.9% of those who also had sleep apnea had this problem.<\/p>\n And while only 6% of those without sleep apnea developed moderate to severe diabetic retinopathy, a whole 18.4% of those with sleep apnea did.<\/p>\n Those who managed their sleep apnea with a CPAP mask were less likely to develop diabetic retinopathy, proving that it\u2019s not an unavoidable condition.<\/p>\n But an even better way to cure (not just treat) sleep apnea completely are the easy jaw, throat and tongue exercises, found here, that open up your breathing passages day and night\u2014as soon as tonight \u2026<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n