subject: How Obesity And Sleep Apnea are Connected [print this page] How Obesity And Sleep Apnea are Connected
The benchmark for sleep apnea to be recognized as a serious medical condition is between 5 and 15 failed air intakes per hour. The obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form. OSA is caused by the airway becoming obstructed during sleep. Central sleep apnea (CSA) is another far rarer form of sleep apnea, where the brain gives unsufficient signol to the muscles to initiate the breathing movement. Here we talk about the interconnection between OSA and obesity. But that does not mean obesity is the single cause for sleep apnea, other causes like Diabetes and life style will be dealt with in more articles.
Most importantly: This is not just an extreme form of snoring! As a serious medical condition, it does not only immediately effect the individual's health (daytime fatigue, uncontrolled moods, indomnia, headaches). It also negatively affects the overall medical condition. Primarly through periodic unsufficient oxygen supply organs like the liver, kidneys and the heart can be seriously harmed. Strokes are a likely effect as well
The likelyhood of OSA is greater in men and far greater in obese individuals. When pharingael muscles relax during sleep the sometimes enlarged tongue, increased fat in the neck and larger tonsils press on the airways. Neck circumflexes of 17 inch in men and 16 inches in women count as an indicator for elevated sleep apnea risk.
It is most important to act immediately when OSA is diagnosed, as sleep apnea and obesity influence each other negatively and make recovery increasingly hard.
the worsened physical and psychological condition of the individual will be a barrier for maintaining a regular workout schedule and healthy life style.
sleep apnea and the resulting poor sleep causes increased appetite. The reason is an alteration in the satiety hormones through fatigue and their influence on hunger.
elevated blood pressure, fasting glucose and high cholesterol are common effects of obesity and worson under sleep deprivation.
the hormones that control eating habits are often deranged by sleep apnea, which often leads to worsened obesity, higher blodd pressure and glucose intolerance.
It's a vicious cycle that leads to the ever faster deterioration of the obese individuals health. Obesity is always a hazard to overall health, but with sleep apnea it is likely to become the root of inevitable erosion of one's health. If you think you might suffer from sleep apnea, you need to consult a doctor and test it in a sleep lab. If you are diagnosed with OSA you will have to follow thru with a strict weight loss and exercise plan. But the good news is, that it will dramatically increase your overall well being and improve you life quality dramatically.
