You are familiar with the sleep disorder and heard its name before. But you are in the dark as to why it happens, etc. When diagnosed with it for the first time, you have been told that the main trigger for the onset was obesity. It leaves you shocked. What has a sleep disorder got to do with body weight? What is the link between sleep apnea and weight gain?
As you would learn in the following paragraphs, they enjoy one of the closest bonds and remain together till the condition is completely cured. In fact, obesity triggers it, and weight loss helps in the quick recovery.
The beginning of the relationship
Obesity triggers many adverse health conditions; snoring perhaps tops the list. When left untreated, snoring worsens quickly, causing narrowing of airways resulting in extreme breathing distress. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of this condition affecting nearly 50% of those diagnosed. It happens with the complete blockage and collapse of the upper respiratory tract.
The notable aspect of the disorder is that obesity triggers it, but gaining extra pounds become an indicator as well as an after-effect of the condition.
Symptoms are elusive
A good reason why the disorder remains unnoticed and undiagnosed most of the time is because the major signs appear during sleep. The bed partner is the first person who notices the breathing distress, frequent choking and gasping, recurrent pauses in breathing, loud and persistent snoring, etc. Signs that are eventually noticed by the sufferer are rapid and unexplained weight increase, excessive daytime sleepiness, mood disorders, etc.
What about diagnosis?
An overnight sleep study, known also as polysomnogram examination is recommended by the doctor for medically confirming the condition. Considered one of the most reliable and objective diagnostic tools, the test results reveal the site of obstruction in the respiratory tract, the severity of the condition and the cause of onset. Several important physical and physiological parameters during sleep are studied for guiding the doctor to choose the right therapeutic option.
Signs could be misleading
Some overlapping signs can create diagnostic dilemma especially when they are not unique to any particular sleep disorder. For example, excessive daytime sleepiness is not unique to this disorder only; it is one of the main narcolepsy symptoms and equally strong in patients with hypersomnia.
However there are many parallel indicators that help in correct diagnosis. For example, sudden sleep attacks are an equally strong indicator of narcolepsy – absent in any other sleep disorder. If apnea sets in around 50 years of age, other sleep disorders normally set in much earlier. Thus age of onset can help in correct diagnosis.
Treatment rationale
Obesity control and normalization of breathing are the two main aims of therapy.
Weight reduction recommendations include physical exercises, diet control and doing special exercises for breathing muscles for toning and strengthening them. This can reduce the excess fat accumulated that makes them weak and flaccid. Using CPAP, changing sleeping position, raising pillow height, quitting alcohol, etc are measures suggested for ensuring pause-free breathing.
Surgery is often the best option for the management of more severe cases. There are several options in this area too.
The close relationship between sleep apnea and weight gain exists from the time of onset of the condition till the patient is completely cured. To make any therapy effective, losing weight not just of the body but also of the breathing muscle is imperative.
Do you need more information about sleep apnea symptoms, then make sure to check Douglas Kidder’s site and learn everthing you want to know about obstructive sleep apnea.