Sleep Apnea and Obesity
Physicians have identified obesity as the biggest risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Evidence suggests that the fatty cells around the throat tissue could narrow the airways, increasing the chances for apneas to occur. An apnea is defined as a pause in breathing for 10 or more seconds.
The complications of obesity can have deeply negative effects on lifestyle, not to mention lead to other serious medical problems, including diabetes. The heavier a person is, the more severe OSA becomes, so most physicians recommend exercise and a healthy diet for people with OSA. A common symptom of sleep apnea is daytime tiredness. If you are tired throughout the day, you may not have the energy to exercise.
In addition to regular exercise and a healthy diet, healthy sleep is essential for a healthy life because our quality of sleep affects our overall well-being. Normal sleep is generally composed of two main states: non-rapid eye movement (called non-REM) and rapid eye movement (called REM) sleep. Non-REM sleep makes up about 80% of our sleep and includes the occurrence of hormone release, which is very important to allow the body to function. REM sleep accounts for about 20% of the night and is the stage of “deep” sleep where dreams occur. Sleep apnea interrupts both non-REM and REM sleep. The interruption of both stages of sleep does not allow systems, like your heart, to rest and recover as they normally would.
During sleep, the upper airway collapses obstructing airflow from moving through the airway. Sleep apnea affects about 1 in 5 people. In the U.S. alone, sleep apnea affects 20 million adults and has also been closely linked to high blood pressure, heart failure and diabetes. People with sleep apnea stop breathing while they’re asleep, sometimes hundreds of times a night. A bed partner may even witness these gasps that are followed by a coughing sound, which opens the airway again. Common symptoms of OSA include: snoring, constant tiredness, poor concentration, depression, lack of energy, weight gain or loss and high blood pressure.
Treating Sleep Apnea
The good news is that sleep apnea is easily treatable without surgery or taking pills. The sleep disorder is commonly treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. A bedside device gently delivers pressurized air through a small nasal mask or pillows system. This pressure acts like an “air splint” to keep the upper airway open throughout the night.
If you are obese and experience fatigue even after a full night’s rest, you may not be getting the proper sleep you need. Losing weight through regular exercise and a healthy diet is another way to combat sleep apnea and its negative health effects.
Conclusion
If you think you or your loved one may have sleep apnea, talk to your family doctor about these symptoms to see if further evaluation is required. If your clinician finds that you have symptoms of sleep apnea, you will be sent to a sleep specialist for an overnight evaluation. If you test positive for sleep apnea, the sleep specialist will write you a prescription for CPAP therapy. This treatment is covered by most insurance.