People sometimes go through the day wondering why they feel so tired. They quizzically review their sleeping habits and muse: "I wasn't up late last night…I got 8 hours of sleep". Finally this topic of fatigue is discussed with their doctor who elicits information from the patient which causes the doctor to send the patient for a "Sleep" study, and thereafter a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea is rendered.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a form of sleep disordered breathing whereby the throat muscles relax during sleep, which results in the airway collapsing or being obstructed by the tongue. As a result, air flow to the lungs stops for several seconds. The brain senses the oxygen deprivation and the patient either awakens gasping for air or just gasps and goes back to sleep. This occurs repeatedly throughout the night in affected patients, thereby depriving the patient of a good night's rest.
The nightly lack of quality sleep, results in chronic fatigue. In addition to fatigue and chronic exhaustion, sleep apnea has been linked to other conditions including high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
The causes of sleep apnea are unclear, however research has shown that excess weight can contribute to the development and worsening of the condition. Over 50% of those affected with sleep apnea are overweight.
Ironically, there is some evidence that sleep apnea may contribute to further weight gain, which in turn causes further exacerbation of the condition. The sleep deprivation experienced by the patient results in chronic daytime fatigue, which may result in overeating and a decreased level of physical exercise. As a result, further weight gain results.
A 5-year study to determine the impact of weight loss on sleep apnea recently published concluded that a modest 5% sustained weight loss achieved a significant reduction in the incidence of progression of obstructive sleep apnea.
Overweight individuals that have symptoms of chronic fatigue, who know that they snore loudly and have had episodes whereby they seem to stop breathing at night, should be sure to consult their doctor. If obstructive sleep apnea is diagnosed, they can be fitted with a breathing device to wear at night that will maintain their airway and allow them to have restful, restorative sleep. In addition, it may be beneficial for such individuals to go on a weight loss program and shed those extra pounds, and possibly improve or alleviate their sleep apnea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a form of sleep disordered breathing whereby the throat muscles relax during sleep, which results in the airway collapsing or being obstructed by the tongue. As a result, air flow to the lungs stops for several seconds. The brain senses the oxygen deprivation and the patient either awakens gasping for air or just gasps and goes back to sleep. This occurs repeatedly throughout the night in affected patients, thereby depriving the patient of a good night's rest.
The nightly lack of quality sleep, results in chronic fatigue. In addition to fatigue and chronic exhaustion, sleep apnea has been linked to other conditions including high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
The causes of sleep apnea are unclear, however research has shown that excess weight can contribute to the development and worsening of the condition. Over 50% of those affected with sleep apnea are overweight.
Ironically, there is some evidence that sleep apnea may contribute to further weight gain, which in turn causes further exacerbation of the condition. The sleep deprivation experienced by the patient results in chronic daytime fatigue, which may result in overeating and a decreased level of physical exercise. As a result, further weight gain results.
A 5-year study to determine the impact of weight loss on sleep apnea recently published concluded that a modest 5% sustained weight loss achieved a significant reduction in the incidence of progression of obstructive sleep apnea.
Overweight individuals that have symptoms of chronic fatigue, who know that they snore loudly and have had episodes whereby they seem to stop breathing at night, should be sure to consult their doctor. If obstructive sleep apnea is diagnosed, they can be fitted with a breathing device to wear at night that will maintain their airway and allow them to have restful, restorative sleep. In addition, it may be beneficial for such individuals to go on a weight loss program and shed those extra pounds, and possibly improve or alleviate their sleep apnea.