A Sleep Medicine Dentist Explains How Weight Loss Can Help With Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder among overweight or obese people. A person with this condition often wakes up with a terrible headache and daytime tiredness. This results from pauses in breathing while sleeping and inadequate sleep. If you want to know how losing weight can help with your sleep apnea, here are explanations from a sleep medicine dentist.

What sleep apnea is

This is a condition in which the person stops breathing while asleep. This pause can last for seconds or minutes. It can affect a person’s health in a negative way. Inadequate sleep results from waking up gasping for air. This can happen several times during the night.

The person then suffers from daytime sleepiness and exhaustion. Morning headaches are also common in people with this condition because of the lack of brain oxygenation. It can also result from frequent sleep interruptions. These terrible head pains are not part of a healthy lifestyle.

Its connection to excess weight

Research shows that there is a connection between this sleep disorder and obesity. People with excess weight tend to suffer from this condition more. A thorough physical examination can determine if the overweight person is at risk or already has sleep apnea. Measurement of the neck circumference is one way to check. A neck circumference of at least 16 inches in women and 17 inches in men will increase the risk for this condition.

Its connection to weight loss

Studies show that it is possible to correct sleep apnea with weight loss in some patients. A person’s anatomy often affects this part of the treatment. Someone with prominent tonsils, a receded chin, or a deviated septum will still cause this condition to persist despite weight loss. Even so, losing weight will give anyone many health benefits. This may include the improvement of some sleep apnea symptoms.

Research proves that this sleep disorder can slow down a person’s metabolism. Inadequate sleep and improper oxygenation affect the balance of hormones in the body. This then results in a slow metabolic rate. Controlling sleep apnea can help ensure weight loss. A sleep medicine dentist can help make this happen.

How losing weight can help correct sleep apnea

A healthy weight can help improve the symptoms of this sleep disorder. Excess weight tends to form fatty layers in the tongue and neck. This obstructs the person’s breathing, especially while sleeping. Weight loss cuts down the fatty deposits in these areas. This improves the person’s breathing by increasing airway traction and lung volume. These events prevent airway collapse during sleep.

Losing a significant amount of weight can reduce irritability and daytime sleepiness. It can lower insulin resistance and blood pressure. Diet and lifestyle changes through clean living can help the person lose weight and treat sleep apnea. Some people need additional help through medication or even surgery. A dialogue between the patient and the sleep medicine dentist is ideal. It can help determine which weight loss remedy can help the patient most.

Weight loss can help improve your sleep apnea symptoms

Excess weight can cause obstructions in your upper air passages. It is a common cause of breathing pauses while you sleep. This results in many health disorders. Losing weight can help correct sleep apnea symptoms. An appointment with your sleep medicine dentist can answer more of your questions about this particular disorder.

Are you considering getting sleep apnea treatments in the Bakersfield area? Get more information at https://brimhalldentalgroup.com.

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