Obesity and sleep apnea have been linked to serious health risks, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and premature death. Both obesity and sleep apnea conditions affect many people in Singapore and around the world.
Studies are increasingly discovering that those with sleep apnea tend to be obese more than those without. This connection may be explained by factors such as ethnicity or dietary habits.
Researchers have noted that overweight and obese individuals with sleep apnea are much more likely to develop hypertension than their non-obese peers. This could be because hypertension, caused by high blood pressure, can increase heart rate and blood vessel size, restricting cerebral blood flow.
Studies have demonstrated that people who are overweight or obese and suffer from sleep apnea tend to be less physically active than their non-sleep-apnea peers, likely because of the increased shortness of breath and chest discomfort while exercising. This lack of energy may reduce one's capacity for eating healthy meals, which in turn could contribute to weight gain.
Sleep apnea occurs when the muscles that control breathing stop and start, causing hundreds of seconds to pause in-between. This triggers the brain to send emergency signals for oxygen flow back on, causing the sleeper to jolt awake multiple times an hour.
Obesity is a major risk factor for sleep apnea, especially among adults, and obesity can be treated through weight loss. Studies have demonstrated that losing even 10 percent of your body weight can reduce symptoms associated with this disorder as well as improve overall health.
Weighted and obese patients with sleep apnea tend to be diagnosed more frequently than those without the disorder, often having higher apnea-hypopnea indexes and respiratory arousal thresholds when referred for diagnosis by a sleep specialist - which is especially true of overweight or obese adults.
Fat in your neck can cause your airways to collapse, leading to the pauses and snoring associated with sleep apnea. Furthermore, fat around your belly may reduce lung capacity, making it harder for you to breathe.
Weight loss has been shown to help those with sleep apnea reduce their snoring and wake up feeling refreshed, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. However, it's not a cure-all and some individuals may require additional weight loss than others in order to see results.
The most widely prescribed and successful treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is CPAP therapy, which uses air pressure to keep your throat open while you sleep. CPAP is safe, user-friendly, and usually effective for many individuals with this disorder; however, those who find CPAP difficult to tolerate may require oral appliances or surgery in order to achieve relief.
Those struggling to shed pounds may benefit from a breathing device like a CPAP machine by ResMed. To maximize its effectiveness, make sure that you use your CPAP regularly and that it fits comfortably so that it works optimally for you.