Overweight and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder the negatively affects many parts of human body.

Sleep apnea is believed to affect 25% of the adult population and as high as 45% of individuals with obesity.

Obesity or overweight is a key risk factor for the development of Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and about 75% of adult OSA patients have obesity. Children with obesity have a 48% increased risk of OSA compared to their normal-weight peers.

The new study found you can lose down your fatty tongue as you lose overall body fat. This study shows that reducing excess fat can reduce tongue size. In fact, the more tongue fat you lost, the more your apnea improved

Researchers studied 70 obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and measured how a 10% weight loss would affect their upper airways.

They found that patients who reduced their tongue size by losing overall body fat improved sleep apnea scores by more than 30%.

CPAP Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Left sleep apnea untreated will lead to serious medical conditions, including, diabetes, heart disease and even cancer.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and combined with weight loss, is a cornerstone of sleep apnea treatment. CPAP users wear a mask over their nose and/or mouth during sleep. A pump attached to the mask gently blows constant and continuous pressurized air into the airway to prevent the tissues from collapsing and blocking the airway flowing into the lungs while patients sleep.

Surgical Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea, called OSA, is dangerous to human health. lt can raise blood pressure and heighten the risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Treatment may depend on the severity of your sleep apnea, your doctor may recommend surgery.

The types of surgery that treat sleep apnea include:

• Nasal surgery
• Soft palate implants
• Adenotonsillectomy
• Tongue advancement – removal of excess soft tissue from the nose and/or throat
• Maxillomandibular advancement — moving your jawbone forward
• Tracheotomy — for life-threatening cases of sleep apnea

Interested in scheduling a sleep study? Contact the Global Sleep Care Centre to find out how.