A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine confirmed that weight loss can help cure sleep apnea.  According to the study, patients that lost an average of 24 pounds, or 10 percent of their body weight, were three times more likely to stop their apnea.

Sleep apnea is condition where you stop breathing during the night for short periods of time.  “Apnea” is a Greek word that literally means “without breath.” There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed. According to the ASAA (American Sleep Apnea Association):

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. In central sleep apnea, the airway is not blocked but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe. Mixed apnea, as the name implies, is a combination of the two. With each apnea event, the brain briefly arouses people with sleep apnea in order for them to resume breathing, but consequently sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality.

Sleep and weight issues

Not only is sleep apnea a very dangerous condition but it can also be one of the contributing factors to your weight issues.  Studies have shown that those that don’t get enough sleep have higher levels of cortisol in their system than those that do get enough sleep.  Excessive levels of Cortisol, as you may or may not know, can lead to weight gain, lowered immune system, and much more.  Cortisol secretion is caused by stress and it has been proven that sleep deprivation elevates stress. The result is prolonged periods of high cortisol levels in your system.

Symptoms of sleep apnea

The most common symptoms of OSA that you may notice are (source):

• Excessive daytime sleepiness, which is falling asleep when you normally should not, such as while you are eating, talking, or driving.
• Waking with an unrefreshed feeling after sleep, having problems with memory and concentration, feeling tired, and experiencing personality changes.
• Morning or night headaches. About half of all people with sleep apnea report headaches.
• Heartburn or a sour taste in the mouth at night.
• Swelling of the legs if you are obese.
• Getting up during the night to urinate (nocturia).
• Sweating and chest pain while you are sleeping.  
   

There are also symptoms someone else may notice while you are sleeping:

• Episodes of not breathing (apnea), which may occur as few as 5 times an hour (mild apnea) to more than 50 times an hour (severe apnea). How many episodes you have determines how severe your sleep apnea is.
• Loud snoring. Almost all people who have sleep apnea snore, but not all people who snore have sleep apnea.
• Restless tossing and turning during sleep.
• Nighttime choking or gasping spells

If you think you may be suffering from sleep apnea, please contact your doctor immediately.  Sleep apnea treatments range from simple home treatments such as losing weight to the use of a device called a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure ) machine to surgery.