Sleep apnoea is a condition in which breathing is interrupted during sleep. The pauses in breathing can last from a few seconds to minutes, and they may occur 30 times or more an hour. Sleep apnoea is often undiagnosed because people do not realise they are pausing their breathing during sleep. However, it can have serious consequences, including an increased risk of high blood pressure, stroke and heart failure. One of the main risk factors for sleep apnea is obesity. In this blog post, we will explore the link between sleep apnea and obesity, as well as some of the potential consequences of this condition.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnoa is a condition where your breathing stops for short periods of time while you are asleep. It can happen if the muscles in your throat relax too much. Sleep apnea is more common in people who are overweight.
If you have sleep apnea, you may snore loudly. You may also feel tired during the day, even if you have had enough sleep. Sleep apnea can make it hard to concentrate and make you more likely to have accidents.
Sleep apnea can be treated with lifestyle changes, such as losing weight and quitting smoking. You may also need to use a device that helps keep your airway open, such as a CPAP machine.
What causes sleep apnoe?
There are a few causes of sleep apnea, but the most common is obesity. When someone is obese, they have an increased amount of tissue in their throat and neck area. This extra tissue can block the airway and cause snoring or sleep apnea. Obesity isn’t the only cause of sleep apnea though. Other causes include:
-A family history of sleep apnea
-Being male (men are more likely to develop sleep apnoea than women)
-Increasing age
-Smoking
-Drinking alcohol
How does sleep apnea affect your health?
In the short term, sleep apnoea can lead to fatigue, irritability and difficulty concentrating. It can also increase your risk of accidents and injuries. In the long term, sleep apnea can contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
If you are overweight or obese, you are at increased risk of developing sleep apnea. Losing weight can help to reduce your risk of developing the condition, or improve your symptoms if you already have it.
How to treat sleep apnea
There are two types of sleep apnoea: obstructive and central. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is the more common type and is caused by a blockage of the airway. Central sleep apnoea (CSA) is less common and is caused by a problem with the brain signals that control breathing.
If you think you might have sleep apnoea, see your GP. They will ask about your symptoms and may refer you for a sleep study to confirm the diagnosis.
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Sleep apnoea can be treated with lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, quitting smoking and sleeping on your side. Some people may also need to use a device that helps keep their airway open during sleep, such as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.
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