Will Losing Weight Cure My Sleep Apnea?

Countless millions of people throughout the United States fit the medical definition of overweight or obese. While your weight may not be the biggest factor that influences your health, it can have an impact on your overall wellness. For example, it might be affecting the quality of your sleep! How might extra weight contribute to poor quality sleep, and will losing weight cure your sleep apnea? This blog post explains what you should know.

Obesity and Sleep Apnea

Obesity is one of the most significant risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Excess body weight can lead to the accumulation of fat around the neck and upper airway. This extra tissue can put pressure on the airway while you sleep, increasing the likelihood of it becoming blocked or narrowed. As a result, the airway may partially or completely collapse, leading to repeated interruptions in breathing during the night.

In addition to airway obstruction, obesity can also affect breathing by impacting lung volume and the way your airway muscles function. Individuals who are overweight often experience higher rates of inflammation, which may further increase the severity of sleep apnea symptoms. For many people, addressing weight issues can be a crucial part of managing sleep-disordered breathing.

Losing Weight Might Help

Shedding excess pounds can have a dramatic effect on sleep apnea for some individuals. Research suggests that:

• Losing as little as 10 percent of your body weight can significantly reduce the severity of sleep apnea symptoms.
• Weight loss can decrease fat deposits in the neck and tongue, making it less likely that the airway will become blocked during sleep.

Healthcare providers often recommend weight loss as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for sleep apnea, especially for those with a higher body mass index (BMI).

If you are carrying some extra weight, you may find it worthwhile to slim down a little. However, you should be sure to do it the right way. Avoid extreme diets and unsustainable exercise routines. Instead, make small, sustainable changes. For example, you might start by walking every day and incorporating more veggies into your meal plan. Little changes can make a big difference! Of course, you should also speak with your doctor about how you can move toward your weight loss goals.

Weight Loss Is Not a Guaranteed Solution

While losing weight can help many people reduce the severity of their sleep apnea, it is not a cure-all. Some individuals with sleep apnea are not overweight, while others who lose weight may continue to experience symptoms. This is because sleep apnea can have multiple causes, such as:

• Genetic factors that affect the shape and size of the airway
• Nasal congestion or sinus issues
• Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
• Age-related changes in muscle tone

Even after successful weight loss, some people require ongoing treatment to keep their sleep apnea under control. Medical professionals may recommend continued use of CPAP, oral appliances, or other interventions to help maintain an open airway during sleep.

Losing weight could reduce your sleep apnea symptoms… or it might not. In either case, you should continue to use your sleep apnea treatment until your healthcare provider tells you otherwise.

Meet the Practice

Drs. Yitta Garden and Kenneth Mogell are both Diplomates of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. They work together to help patients find lasting relief from obstructive sleep apnea via oral appliance therapy. If you have questions about how you can improve the quality of your sleep, we invite you to contact our Boca Raton office at 561-353-5252.