Sleep Apnea

If your body mass index (BMI) indicates that you're overweight or obese, you should know you're at increased risk for a serious condition known as sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder. People with sleep apnea may breathe shallowly or have long pauses in their breathing throughout the night. Usually, people with sleep apnea do not wake up fully enough to realize this is happening — though others in the household may complain of their loud snoring, which is one sign of this condition.

During the day, people with sleep apnea often feel fatigued because of their chronically disrupted sleep and may fall asleep easily while watching television, while at work, or most dangerously, while driving.

While some people are affected by central sleep apnea, which is caused by a problem with the central nervous system, most people with sleep apnea have obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when the airway is blocked by the tongue, tonsils, uvula, or excess fatty tissue in the throat. Most people with obstructive sleep apnea are overweight or obese.

If you suspect you might be suffering from sleep apnea, talk to your doctor about being tested for the condition. Sleep apnea not only puts you at greater risk of excessive fatigue and accidents, but it also has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and other serious illnesses. There are very effective treatments available.

Luckily, one of the best ways to improve the symptoms of sleep apnea is losing excess weight. By eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and making other healthy lifestyle changes, you are already taking important steps in the right direction!