Sleep Apnea Treatment Article

Sleep Disorders and Your Weight

More and more people are becoming overweight, people of all ages, genders, and ethnicity. Being overweight can cause you all sorts of troubles, such as back pain, extreme fatigue, and of course the obvious, trouble finding clothes that fit well. Being overweight can lower your self esteem, especially when you spend thousands of dollars trying the next fad diet, only to find out it doesn’t work for you. Or, in the event you do lose weight, you gain it all back as soon as you return to your normal eating habits. Obesity can cause cardiovascular problems and high blood pressure, both of which can be fatal. The scary thing is that more overweight people die from sleep apnea each year, so if your heart disease and high blood pressure doesn’t get you, then you very well could suffocate on your own obese tissues while you sleep. Isn’t that an eye opener?

If you suffer from sleep apnea, and fail to seek medical treatment, you could very well stop breathing in your sleep and die. Sleep apnea causes many other symptoms, all minor compared to death of course, but still important to discuss just the same. If you have sleep apnea you probably have a difficult time staying asleep at night, and may wake up feeling more tired than when you went to bed, even after a full night’s sleep. You may have a hard time staying awake at work, driving, watching television, and have a hard time concentrating on important tasks, which can severely impact your job performance, often leading to termination. All of these sleep apnea symptoms combined can very easily lead to depression.

The most dangerous type of sleep apnea is caused when extra tissue in the mouth blocks your airway, causing breathing difficulties. Sometimes, it can take your body a couple of minutes to realize that you are not breathing, and then sends a signal to your brain to wake you up, so you will start breathing again. In the event your brain is unable to get you to wake up, then you will likely die in your sleep from suffocation, caused by your sleep apnea.

When you talk to your doctor about your sleep problems, and the symptoms you have, such as snoring and mood swings, and you have undergone your sleep study, chances are you will get a diagnosis of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can be treated and prevented, with a combined effort from you and your doctor. You may have to make a conscious effort to change some of your habits, including sleeping position, dietary changes to lose weight, fit in time for a daily exercise routine, stop smoking and drinking, and if those don’t work, maybe even having surgery or sleeping with a nasal appliance to help keep your airway open.

The more overweight you become, the greater your risk for developing sleep apnea, so it is crucial that you control your weight. There are other sleep disorders that are thought to be caused by being overweight, including nighttime heartburn, extremely loud snoring, and nighttime coughs. All of these issues can greatly inhibit your ability to get a good night’s sleep, so if you suffer from any of them, you should talk to your doctor and make a concentrated effort to lose weight.