Albertville, AL
The most widespread kind of sleep disturbance is obstructive sleep apnea. Even though you may believe you are sleeping soundly at night, you may be waking up 300 times to restart your breathing. When the airway becomes blocked during sleep, it’s often called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). There are many reasons why the airway may be blocked, although excess weight or a large neck circumference may cause the airway to collapse. Therefore, our Albertville dentists that treat sleep apnea share on the blog today more information about the relationship between your waistline and sleep apnea and if losing weight can help cure the condition.
Excess Weight Can Cause Sleep Apnea
Obesity is a common contributing factor to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients. As the body’s fat stores increase, they can appear anyplace on the body, like the tongue, neck, or throat. Our sleep apnea dentists in Albertville explain that the airway can close and prevent airflow in overweight people when they sleep. The condition, more often known as sleep apnea, can result in the patient ceasing to breathe while they are asleep. Furthermore, when fat accumulates in the belly it can compress the chest wall and reduce overall lung space. The decreased lung capacity can reduce airflow, which is what maintains an open airway. The likelihood of developing sleep apnea rises SIX TIMES with a 10% weight gain.
Sleep Apnea Can Cause Excess Weight Gain
Gaining weight increases your chance of developing sleep apnea, and having sleep apnea increases your risk of gaining weight. Our airway dentists in Albertville explain that sleep deprivation brought on by untreated sleep apnea has a profound effect on your hormones, especially those that control appetite. For instance, individuals who lack sleep have lower amounts of leptin, the hormone that suppresses hunger, and greater levels of ghrelin, the hormone that stimulates appetite. With the shift in hunger hormones and the low energy levels caused by sleep apnea, it’s doubtful that you have a good diet and regular exercise regimen. Consequently, weight gain is unavoidable.
Health Effects of the Condition
Obesity with sleep apnea can have fatal effects on a person’s health.
Our Albertville airway dentists share more health issues below, where obesity and sleep apnea can increase the risk of developing the condition:
- Stroke
- Chest pain
- Heart attack
- Heart arrhythmia
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Elevated blood pressure
- Hypoglycemic Syndrome
Getting sleep apnea treatment and losing weight is necessary if you wish to lower your chance of developing the conditions mentioned above. Through practical steps and a customized treatment plan, our sleep apnea dentists in Albertville can help you get a better night’s rest and feel fantastic the next day.
How to Lose Weight with Sleep Apnea
Anyone who has sleep apnea, regardless of the type, frequently feels fatigued, groggy, and unrested when they awaken. When you don’t have enough energy, you tend to move less, accomplish less, and frequently consume more food. More eating combined with less activity usually results in weight gain, which in some situations can ultimately result in more severe sleep apnea.
Every patient is unique when it comes to treating sleep apnea. Losing weight and wearing a sleep apnea device like an oral appliance can help you manage your sleep apnea symptoms. Our Albertville sleep apnea dentists explain that the therapy for sleep apnea may not be as successful as desired if weight is not lost because the fat deposits in the throat interfere with efforts to open the airway.
It’s conceivable that decreasing weight can cure your sleep apnea after reaching a healthy weight with the use of sleep apnea therapy. If the two treatments are to be effective, they must be used in tandem. While it’s not usually the case, some patients do experience complete reversal and can restore a natural sleep pattern that’s sleep apnea-free. Keep in mind, however, that healthy individuals, even athletes, can develop obstructive sleep apnea. Therefore, sleep apnea doesn’t always just plague overweight individuals.
Sleep Apnea Treatment in Albertville, Alabama
Losing weight is an excellent start to help decrease sleep apnea symptoms, but it may not work for everyone. The best way to manage your weight loss and sleep apnea condition is to obtain the guidance of an Albertville airway dentist that treats OSA. Our dentists at Wall Street Dentistry have the experience and knowledge to create a customized treatment plan that can have you experiencing better sleep in a short timeframe. So, call our office at (256) 878-0525 or contact us online to request an appointment so that we can help you break the weight gain and sleep apnea cycle.
