The Sleep Apnea and Weight Gain Cycle
f you always feel sleepy, even though you are getting 7 or more hours of sleep each night; you drift off to sleep if you sit still for more than a few minutes during the day; or your partner complains that you wake him/her by snoring. Chances are you have a condition known as sleep apnea, which can both be caused by and cause weight gain.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a common disorder characterized by pauses in breathing, lasting anywhere from 10-30 seconds, during sleep. These apnic episodes, which can occur hundreds of times each night, are followed by a brief period of arousal in order to restart the breathing process. Other than always being tired, individuals with sleep apnea are rarely aware of their fragmented sleep pattern.
About one in four men and one in ten women in the US have sleep apnea. Obesity increases the risk of this condition.
The term apnea comes from a Greek word meaning “without breath.” There are 3 types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed. Obstructive apnea is the most common form and is often linked to obesity. Obstructive apnea is so named because the airway literally becomes blocked or obstructed during sleep.
The Sleep Apnea Overeating Connection- a 2 Way Street
Lack of restful sleep alters the levels of stress, hunger, and appetite hormones the human body produces. These hormonal changes cause sleep-deprived people to graze on sweet and starchy foods throughout the day in an attempt to boost their energy level. Not surprisingly this type of eating pattern often causes weight gain, which in turn can lead to- or worsen- sleep apnea.
The most common symptoms of sleep apnea are loud snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness, falling asleep easily, and sometimes at inappropriate times such as during a meeting or even while driving.
Who is At Risk?
Although the typical sleep apnea patent is, overweight, male, and over age forty, sleep apnea affects both males and females of all ages and is being seen in a more varied population, including children and teens, as the obesity epidemic increases. In an obese individual excess fat deposited in the tissues surrounding the neck obstructs the airway during sleep.
More than twelve million Americans are known to suffer from sleep apnea, but the actual number of effected individuals is believed to be much higher. Experts estimate that at least ten million additional Americans are living with undiagnosed sleep apnea.
Over 20 million Americans of all ages are believed to suffer from sleep apnea.
Life -threatening Side Effects
Left untreated, sleep apnea can pose life-threatening consequences, including high blood pressure, an increased risk of death due to heart attack or stroke while sleeping, and other cardiovascular complications. It is also associated with memory problems, weight gain, impotency, headaches, reduced job performance, and increased risk of auto accidents.
Treatment
The American Sleep Apnea Association reports about half of the overweight people with obstructive sleep apnea show improvement after losing as little as 10% of their body weight. Because weight loss will take time and sleep apnea can be life threatening, your doctor will probably prescribe another treatment while you reduce your weight.
The most effective immediate treatment for sleep apnea is CPAP (pronounced C-PAP). It stands for Continuous Positive Air Pressure. CPAP is delivered from a machine through a mask worn by the patient while sleeping. The drawbacks of sleeping attached to a machine every night motivate many people with sleep apnea to lose weight.
About half the people with sleep apnea show improvement after losing just 10% of their body weight.
Your sleep specialist or primary care physician may refer you to a medical weight management clinic so that you receive the best possible supervision and behavior change training while losing weight.