Apr 14, 2014 05:46 PM EDT By Jaleesa Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

People who suffer from moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea may have an increased risk of stroke, cancer and death, according to a recent study.

Researchers from found that people with severe sleep apnea were four times more likely to die, nearly four times more likely to have a stroke, three times more likely to die from cancer, and 2.5 times more likely to develop cancer, according to a press release.

"Sleep apnea is a common disease that has a powerful impact on public health because it greatly increases the risk of strokes, cancers and mortality from any cause," Nathaniel S. Marshall, lead author and senior lecturer in clinical trials at the University of Sydney in Australia, said in a statement.

The study involved 397 adults who are participating in the ongoing Busselton Health Study.  Researchers gathered sleep data in 1990 using a portable home sleep testing device. Participants with a history of stroke or cancer were excluded from selected analyses.

During the 20-year follow-up period there were 77 deaths and 31 strokes, as well as 125 cancer events that included 39 fatalities. Mild sleep apnea was not associated with increased health risks.

"Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic disease that can be destructive to your health," American Academy of Sleep Medicine President Dr. Safwan Badr said in a statement. "People with symptoms of sleep apnea, such as loud and frequent snoring or silent pauses in breathing during sleep, should see a board certified sleep medicine physician for a comprehensive sleep evaluation."

Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that affects up to seven percent of men and five percent of women. It involves repetitive episodes of complete or partial upper airway obstruction occurring during sleep despite an ongoing effort to breathe.

The findings were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 

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