One of the biggest factors that determine if a person is going to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea is obesity. Obstructive sleep apnea is very common in people who are overweight; one of the best things you can do to treat this disorder is to drop a couple pounds.
Doctors think that extra fat and swelling in a few areas contribute to sleep apnea, most notably the tonsils, tongue, and neck.
The extra fat in these areas presses on a person’s airway; this is very likely to occur when a person falls asleep and relaxes their throat muscles. If you are a male and your neck circumference is larger than 17 inches, then you are more likely to have sleep apnea; for women, the number is 16 inches or more.
The worst part about sleep apnea is that it works in a vicious cycle. Studies show that people who suffer from sleep apnea are more likely to overeat during the day. There seems to be a relationship between sleep deprivation and the hormones that trigger hunger.
How Can Losing Weight Help My Sleep Apnea?
If a person loses weight, then they can reduce their chances of suffering from sleep apnea; some people have lost weight and gotten rid of it altogether. About 70% of sleep apnea patients are overweight, and there is a clear link between the two.
Losing weight around your neck, chest and abdomen seem to be the easiest way to get rid of most cases of sleep apnea. This central weight is the most dangerous; fat around your legs and thighs does not carry much risk for disturbed breathing patterns. If you carry a lot of fat around your abdomen, then losing some weight will dramatically reduce your health risks.
Just dropping a few pounds can potentially eliminate sleep apnea altogether; studies have shown that just a 10% drop in weight can eliminate mild cases of sleep apnea. These same studies show that substantial weight loss can significantly improve the most severe cases of sleep apnea.
If you start a weight loss regimen, you are probably going to change your diet and exercise routines. Changing your diet and exercising more have been proven to help with sleep apnea. Treating your body in a healthy way makes it more likely to work correctly.
Changing your lifestyle instantaneously cuts your chances of having sleep apnea. If you keep up the healthy routine, then you will start losing weight; diet, exercise and eventual weight loss are a great combination that works to end sleep apnea.
If you have sleep apnea, do whatever is in your power to not gain weight. The more weight you gain, the worse your condition will get. Do your best to improve your situation; you will probably end up pleasantly surprised and energized.
The bottom line is that you can cut your sleep apnea risk greatly with a few lifestyle changes. It is up to you to exercise more, change your diet and lose some weight in the process. Doing these simple things makes you healthier and happier in the long run.