Sleep Apnea And Weight Loss

Can Weight loss cure sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea and weight loss treatment already make an interesting subject in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Weight loss is one of the best treatments for weight-related OSA, but it's very difficult to maintain.

The question is: Can you permanently cure sleep apnea with weight loss? And if it's true, then how can you achieve this performance?

Considering that not all the patients with sleep apnea have an effective cure with weight loss, the answer is not so simple. However, weight loss can cure sleep apnea permanently for many patients with obstructive apnea.

In this page you will learn which patients can be treated with weight loss. If you are overweight and have sleep apnea, this information will be very helpful.


Can You Improve OSA by losing Weight?

Sleep apnea and weight loss that can cure obstructive apnea is not a myth, theory or a spin anymore. It's an absolute fact for most people. You can cure sleep apnea with weight loss.

In many studies, approximately two-thirds of patients with obstructive sleep apnea are obese as defined by higher than 120% of ideal body weight.

Here are some important facts about sleep apnea and weight loss:

  • Obesity is a major risk factor for OSA, especially, if there is significant fat accumulation in the neck.
  • weight gain has been associated with increases in the severity of obstructive apnea in several studies.
  • weight loss has been shown to reduce the overall apnea hypopnea index (AHI).


The mechanism of weight gain causing increased severity of obstructive apnea is likely related to the effect of the regional fat deposition in the tissues surrounding the part of the neck and throat situated behind the mouth and nasal cavity (the pharynx).

The excess of adipose tissue reduces the area of the pharynx, favoring the obstruction of the airway during inspiration.

Weight loss therefore results in a reduction in upper airway collapsibility.


Weight loss is not always the answer, but it helps

the story about sleep apnea and weight loss therapy doesn't always has happy endings, as some patients still remain afflicted regardless of weigh loss.

Their airway obstruction is due to a large tongue, a narrow airway, swollen tonsils or adenoids, and many other causes.

Weight loss is always welcomed when you have sleep apnea

Because a minority of people cannot be cured of sleep apnea by weight loss, that doesn't mean it can't be done. It's difficult, but you can cure sleep apnea with weight loss.

The good news about weight loss therapy is that it's good not only for sleep apnea but for your overall health. You will feel much better and feel your body sort of healing itself or happy that it does not have to carry so much weight.

You will feel like when you see the difference between being heavy and not so heavy. It kind of feels like you can fly rather then feeling stuck to this world by a magnet.


How to lose weight when you have sleep apnea?

Carrying an extra 70 lbs everyday, every hour and every minute is a real burden. Literally.

However, talking about losing weight just does not work.

You probably know how difficult is to lose weight when you have sleep apnea. If Oprah thinks it's hard to lose weight with diet and exercise, she should try it when you don't have the energy to exercise.

That makes it really hard!!


What type of patient can be treated with weight loss?

Which people can be helped with weight loss to cure their sleep apnea? Well, that should be very simple to figure out. If your main cause of obstructive sleep apnea is weight gain, then you can cure sleep apnea.

However, I know many people with apnea who were never obese (including me) or even slightly overweight. They all have obstructive sleep apnea due to jaw and tongue issues, or they have central apnea. They need other methods of treatments.

The topic about sleep apnea and weight loss should interest every person with weight problems. Everyone should know that weight loss is the best treatment for weight-related obstructive sleep apnea.

But because weight loss takes time and can be very hard to achieve and maintain, other treatments are often required, such as positive airway pressure or weight loss surgery.


Weight Loss Surgery for Sleep Apnea

What is your opinion about surgery for weight loss? Many patients with obstructive sleep apnea are motivated by the results people are getting from gastric band surgery.

The side effect from their surgery is a complete cure of obstructive sleep apnea. They went into the surgery for their health not for the cure of OSA.

It is one of those incidentally medical things that happens when someone gets cured of one thing as a result of a treatment for another condition.

Gastric Band is a simple surgery (for the surgeon) and many people are having it done. It is a real revelation for the once theory of weight loss curing obstructive sleep apnea.

The cure exists, it is happening. And you wont see these people on web sites again, complaining and asking for help. They are cured and gone.

However, the surgery for weight loss is a surgery. And there are some risks involved. I don't want to scare you, but I want you to understand that you should find a natural way to lose weight, before applying for weight loss surgery.

This video explains the risks of gastric band surgery very, very clearly:

Side Effects from Weight Loss Surgery


Weight Loss Diet for Obstructive Apnea Patients

As obesity is the most important risk factor for apnea episodes, weight loss would be expected to lead to an increase in upper airway dimensions and an improvement in sleep breathing disorder.

A safer way to lose weight compared with surgery is a special diet and exercise. However, exercising when you always feel tired and drowsy is a problem for sleep apnea patients.

The article Sleep Apnea Weight Loss Plan can give you some insights on how to diet and exercise in an efficient way, without too much hassle.


Bottom line... 

Weight loss is very difficult, especially if you have sleep apnea. Also, talking about it does not help or make it easier. Because it will always be there like the sun coming up and going down.

Most important thing about sleep apnea and weight loss is this: you won't be able to lose weight until you are ready and until then don't beat yourself up because it will delay you getting ready to do it.


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