Relation Between Obesity and Sleep Apnea

Posted on May 15, 2009 in Latest News

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which a person stops breathing for short periods of time. These episodes of non-breathing occur several times during sleep. Sleep apea can cause daytime drowsiness, irritability, headaches, fatigue and serious consequences such as high blood pressure, heart disease or stroke. Obese people are at high risk of sleep apnea due the constriction of airways while sleeping.

How are Obesity and Sleep Apnea Related?
Obese people are at risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea, a sleep disorder in which a person has pauses in sleep due to obstruction of airway.

In obese people, excessive fat in the chest area prevents the normal movements of the chest muscles and diaphragm,  which affects the respiratory muscles. Excessive adipose tissue in the neck area constricts the airways and lungs, triggering  obstructive sleep apnea.

Obesity in abdominal area and upper body highly increases the risk of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apea due to obesity is also known as Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome.

Treating Obesity related Sleep Apnea:
To treat obesity related sleep apnea, weight loss through daily physical activity and healthy diet is recommended. In severe cases, doctor may recommend bariatric surgery to overcome obesity.

PAP (Positive airway pressure) which involves using a machine to help in breathing, may be used to prevent obstructive sleep apnea.

Obesity is a major risk for obstructive sleep apnea. With the increase in obesity, the risk of sleep apnea also increases. Hence, losing excessive weight through exercising, proper diet can help a person in overcoming sleep apnea.

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