Obstructive Sleep Apnea
The Issue
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder, which mostly afflicts people who are overweight or obese. People with obstructive sleep apnea repeatedly stop and start breathing while they sleep. Symptoms include excessive daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, observed episodes of stopped breathing during sleep, waking during the night and gasping or choking, and morning headaches.
The Cause
During sleep the throat muscles relax and the airway is blocked.
The Solution
A breathing device that uses positive pressure (CPAP machine) to keep the airway open during sleep is commonly prescribed. Weight loss has been shown to significantly improve the severity of sleep apnea symptoms. However, it can be hard for patients with sleep apnea to lose weight as sleep deprivation can decrease levels of leptin and increase levels of ghrelin leading to increased appetite. Using a CPAP machine by itself to treat obstructive sleep apnea may not be enough to lose weight. Research has shown that GLP-1 medications may improve symptoms of sleep apnea. Reduced fat tissue in the neck may directly reduce obstruction. Reduced abdominal obesity may improve breathing mechanics when lying down.
We're here for you
We create treatment plans for our patients suffering from sleep apnea that encompasses dietary changes, increased exercise, laboratory testing and weight loss medications.