“Tired” of gaining weight? You may have sleep apnea.
What exactly is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea occurs when the airway begins to narrow when we sleep, which is a result of the airway tissues relaxing. The oxygen level can start to drop if the airway narrows too much.
When this happens, the brain recognizes the lack air flow, and this triggers several hormones to be released from organs in the body to stimulate a breath.
In the moment, this is a good thing because it stimulates the person to breathe — however over time, these hormones can contribute to several health issues.
Why do we care about sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea can contribute to difficulty managing weight, increased risk of strokes and heart attacks, diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, and even erectile dysfunction for men, among several other problems.
Obesity and sleep apnea link
We all produce a protein call leptin, which helps suppress our appetite and can encourage weight loss. In people with obesity, the body becomes resistant to leptin, reducing ability to control appetite and manage weight.
Having sleep apnea may increase leptin by up to 50%. This heightens the leptin resistance and therefore contributes to easier weight gain.
In addition, patients that have sleep apnea often get sleepy during the day, which could contribute to poor eating choices and being less active or likely to exercise.
I often remind patients that sleep apnea could be part of the puzzle for those struggling to lose weight, and treating it could improve their ability to lose weight more effectively and improve their overall wellness.
What makes it more likely for someone to have sleep apnea?
Family history of sleep apnea
Smaller airway, or jaw is naturally positioned further back (termed retrognathia)
Being obese (BMI of 30 or more), although not always the case
Other conditions such as previous heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, high blood pressure, and abnormal heart rhythms
What are symptoms of sleep apnea?
Snoring
Morning headache, dry mouth or sore throat
A bed partner noticing stopped breathing
Daytime sleepiness
Memory concerns
Concentration problems
Brain fog
Poor mood
Insomnia
Waking up gasping, coughing, or choking
Interrupted or unrefreshing sleep in general
Treatment for sleep apnea
In most cases, sleep apnea is treated with a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. This is medical-grade air compressor, about the size of a Kleenex box, that pushes air through a mask to keep your airway open while sleeping.
Contrary to what you may have heard, Most patients do really well using a CPAP! There are several comfort features and styles of masks to choose from now, and the machines are much quieter and smaller than they used to be.
If someone isn’t able to use a CPAP mask, there are other treatment options such as a custom-made mouth guard, special vented nasal plugs, couple of surgeries which is considered as a last resort.
The newest CPAP treatment is an implantable nerve stimulator that keeps the tissue of the airway from relaxing too much and closing. There are several steps to go through before qualifying for this device, including trying CPAP.
What should you do if you think you might have sleep apnea?
If you have symptoms or risk factors for sleep apnea, I always recommend speaking with your medical provider to determine if further evaluation should be done. Sleep apnea is something that we don’t want to miss. Treatment could improve your health and quality of life.
