Sleep Apnea & Obesity in Weatherford

As if sleep apnea didn’t come with enough problems of its own—interrupted sleep at night, loud snoring, exhaustion during the day—researchers have been finding out that it is connected to a number of bodily conditions that can be harmful to your health. One of those is obesity. Studies are ongoing, but there does seem to be a link between the two. What researchers want to determine is if sleep apnea causes obesity or visa-versa.

We all feel better and more energetic when we get enough sleep. But did you know that not getting a sufficient amount of sleep can disrupt your body’s metabolism and even impact hormone levels. Especially affected is the hormone in your body that tells your brain when you’ve had enough to eat.

Sleep Apnea, Hypertension & Obesity

Furthermore, people with sleep apnea are more prone to have hypertension, an increased level of fasting glucose and high cholesterol. A lack of sleep can make all of these worse, too.

Thus, your body gets trapped in a vicious cycle—you gain weight, which causes sleep apnea, which causes improper hormone levels, which causes you to gain more weight, which makes your sleep apnea worse… you get the picture.

Weight Gain and Sleep Apnea

In addition, as you gain weight the risk of developing obstructed sleep apnea increases. Although you may carry most of your weight in a certain area—often the abdomen for men and hips for women—weight gain is a whole body phenomenon that includes the neck and trunk. Gaining weight here increases pressure on your airway. There is even evidence to show that just the measurement of your neck can predict the likelihood of sleep apnea. A neck circumference of 17 inches or more in men and 16 inches or greater in women increases the odds of developing sleep apnea.

Battle Obesity with Sleep Apnea Therapy

If sleep apnea proves to be the reason behind your weight gain, then sleep apnea therapy may improve your nights and help you lose weight. At Weatherford Dental Sleep Medicine, we partner with experienced physicians in the area in order to provide comprehensive sleep apnea therapy to our patients. In addition, Dr. Romack and Dr. Mulkey offer the following tips that may help you lose weight and consequently sleep better, too.

1. Eat a well-balanced diet comprised of lean meat, chicken and fish, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Stay away from foods that are high in sugar, fat and carbohydrates.
2. Establish a regular exercise schedule.
3. Get to bed early enough to ensure seven or eight hours of sleep a night. This will help to maintain your metabolism and your hormone levels.

Contact Us to Learn More

If you are overweight and exhibit some of the signs of sleep apnea—snoring, headaches, gasping for air at night, a sore throat in the morning, and daytime sleepiness - call Weatherford Dental Sleep Medicine, for sleep apnea therapy.