Did you know that not having enough sleep can affect your weight? When patients with sleep apnea don’t get enough restful sleep, they start to gain weight. This is sometimes due to the extra hours they spend awake in bed, struggling to fall asleep.
Individuals who don’t get enough sleep are most likely to gain weight, which is also true for those with obstructive sleep apnea. But how does sleep apnea cause weight gain? This guide will help you analyze the potential reasons behind this link and offer solutions to help you tackle these issues.
Understanding Sleep Apnea
Definition and Types
Sleep apnea is a sleep problem. It happens when breathing stops repeatedly during sleep. Breathing may stop for a few seconds or even minutes, which can happen many times during the night. This lowers the body’s oxygen levels, and the patient wakes up briefly to catch their breath before falling back asleep.
Sleep apnea has three types: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Central Sleep Apnea (CSA), and Complex Sleep Apnea. A physical obstruction in the airway causes obstructive sleep apnea. The patient’s throat and tongue muscles relax during sleep, causing soft tissue to collapse and clog the airway. In CSA or central sleep apnea, the brain fails to give signal to the muscles responsible for breathing, leading to breathing pauses during sleep. Unlike OSA, CSA is not caused by a physical airway obstruction but rather by a nervous system problem. Complex sleep apnea occurs while OSA is being treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. OSA evolves to CSA in this condition, making it a complex apnea.
Common Symptoms and Risk Factors
There are several symptoms that people with sleep apnea may experience, including:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue
- Loud and chronic snoring
- Dry mouth or sore throat upon waking
- Difficulty concentrating or memory problems
- Pauses in breathing during sleep
- Morning headaches
- Sleep disturbances or nighttime awakenings
- Mood changes, irritability, or depression
- Decreased libido or sexual dysfunction
- Gasping or choking episodes during sleep
Certain factors increase the risk of developing sleep apnea, including:
- Obesity: Excess weight can cause the airway to narrow, leading to interrupted breathing.
- Age: Sleep apnea can develop at any age, although it is more frequent in those in their forties and fifties.
- Family History: There is a genetic link to sleep apnea, which can run in families.
- Gender: Men are more prone to sleep apnea than women.
- Smoking and Alcohol Consumption: Smoking and drinking alcohol can relax the throat’s muscles, which may obstruct breathing during sleep.
- High blood pressure: Sleep apnea and hypertension often coexist, and each condition can contribute to the worsening of the other.
- Nasal congestion: Chronic nasal congestion or structural abnormalities in nasal passages might interfere with healthy sleep breathing.
Impact on Health
Patients with sleep apnea may experience poor sleep quality due to abnormal breathing patterns that can cause sudden awakenings throughout the night. This can impact the brain’s ability to process thoughts and difficulty concentrating.
Sleep apnea also increases a patient’s risk of heart disease, including hypertension and heart attacks. Sleep deprivation can boost appetite and alter hormones that control hunger and fullness. That’s why most patients with sleep apnea tend to gain weight.
Read Also: Untreated Sleep Apnea And Life Expectancy: What You Need To Know
The Link Between Sleep Apnea and Weight Gain
Sleep apnea can cause chronic tiredness and difficulty staying active during the day, making weight loss harder. The connection between the two is complex and can create a cycle where each condition worsens the other.
Weight Gain
Obesity, particularly excess fat buildup around the neck and upper airway, is a significant risk factor for sleep apnea. Extra fat in this location might cause airway narrowing or obstruction, affecting normal airflow during sleep. As a result, those who are obese may have periodic episodes of partial or total collapse of the upper airway, resulting in pauses in breathing associated with sleep apnea.
Weight Loss
Losing weight can decrease sleep apnea symptoms and severity. It may even treat the condition completely. Healthcare providers may suggest weight loss alongside other sleep apnea treatments. Research shows that some participants in a cognitive-behavioral weight reduction program and a very low-calorie diet experienced improved sleep apnea.
Mechanisms of Sleep Apnea-Induced Weight Gain
Weight gain caused by sleep apnea is the outcome of a complex interaction of physiological and behavioral causes. Understanding the mechanisms behind this occurrence may help develop effective treatment options to manage weight gain in patients with sleep apnea.
Disrupted Hormonal Balance
Sleep apnea affects hormones that control appetite and metabolism, causing imbalances. The disease can result in an increase in ghrelin, the hunger hormone, and a decrease in leptin levels, the fullness hormone. As a result, patients with sleep apnea may crave foods with high calories and struggle with controlling their food intake.
Sleep Deprivation
Sleep apnea’s disrupted sleep can interfere with regulating appetite-controlling hormones such as insulin and cortisol. This can lead to insulin resistance, poor glucose metabolism, and an increased risk of obesity.
Daytime Fatigue and Reduced Physical Activity Level
People with sleep apnea often experience excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and low energy levels. As a result, they may become less physically active and adopt a sedentary lifestyle which can lead to weight gain. As a result, it’s hard for them to maintain a healthy weight, and their sleep apnea symptoms worsen.
Inflammation and Metabolic Dysfunction
Obesity and other health problems are made worse by chronic inflammation. It interferes with metabolic functioning and promotes weight gain. Abnormalities in glucose and lipid control are referred to as metabolic dysfunction. Insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism are impaired by sleep apnea, resulting in insulin resistance. High blood sugar, increased fat accumulation, and weight gain can all result from this.
Treating Sleep Apnea to Manage Weight Gain
The best treatment or combination of options for managing sleep apnea and weight gain varies for each individual. Here are some common remedies to control weight gain from sleep apnea.
CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) Therapy
CPAP is a common way to treat sleep apnea. It involves wearing a mask attached to a machine that produces air pressure while sleeping. This keeps the airway open and minimizes apnea episodes. CPAP therapy can also improve sleep quality, reduce stress, and indirectly help with weight control.
Lifestyle Changes
Living healthier can help with sleep apnea and weight gain. This means eating a balanced diet, watching portion sizes, avoiding high-calorie and fatty foods, and cutting back on alcohol. Lifestyle changes can be very effective, especially when combined with other treatments.
Machines and Devices
CPAP isn’t the only option for treating sleep apnea and weight loss. Other tools and technologies are available such as BiPAP (Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure) machines which supply varying levels of air pressure, and APAP (Auto-titrating Positive Airway Pressure) machines which automatically adjust air pressure based on the patient’s needs throughout the night. These machines can offer personalized therapy for those with sleep apnea and improve their comfort.
Read More: How Dental Appliances Help With Sleep Apnea
Surgery
Surgical alternatives are usually reserved for instances when other therapies have failed or for patients with sleep apnea.
Weight Loss
If you are overweight or obese, losing weight can help with sleep apnea symptoms. A weight loss plan that includes diet control, exercise, and behavioral changes can help manage weight and ease sleep apnea. Losing weight can decrease fatty tissue around the neck and upper airway, improving breathing and decreasing apnea episodes.
Exercise
Regular exercise can aid with weight loss and alleviate sleep apnea symptoms. Aerobic exercises include walking, running, swimming, and cycling. These activities can help to strengthen respiratory muscles and promote better breathing during sleep.
Related Article: How To Cure Sleep Apnea Naturally At Home Without CPAP
Reverse Relationship: Achieving Weight Loss to Alleviate Sleep Apnea
Is Sleep Apnea Reversible with Weight Loss?
For many patients, losing weight can help reverse sleep apnea. Excess weight around the neck and upper airway can cause restriction or blockage of the airway, resulting in sleep apnea. Losing weight via proper nutrition and exercise can help decrease fatty tissue in these regions. This can assist in relieving airway pressure, which improves airflow and reduces the frequency and severity of apnea episodes. Furthermore, losing weight can result in improved sleep patterns, including more prolonged periods of deep sleep. Weight loss can affect hormones that govern hunger and encourage healthy eating habits. Thus hormonal modulation is also crucial. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight helps relieve sleep apnea symptoms and may possibly fully reverse the disease.
When to Seek Professional Help
If you’re gaining weight due to sleep apnea, you should get expert treatment to address the problem. Here are some indications that you must consult with a healthcare professional:
- Unexplained and Significant Weight Gain
- Struggling to manage or lose weight despite efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle
- Worsening sleep apnea symptoms such as louder and more frequent snoring, increased daytime fatigue, or episodes of gasping or choking during sleep
- If you have other health concerns or risk factors associated with weight gain and sleep apnea, such as hypertension, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease.
- Low energy levels in the morning.
Weight Gain from Sleep Apnea? Discover Effective Treatments with Garza DDS
Garza DDS provides sleep apnea treatment options in Gilbert, AZ. Dr. Garza can help address the condition and any associated weight gain. Sleep apnea can significantly impact overall health and quality of life. We offer personalized treatment approaches, including therapies like CPAP, customized oral appliances, and lifestyle modifications. Don’t let sleep apnea affect your weight management goals. Schedule a consultation with Garza DDS for effective treatment options. We can make a difference in your life.