Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder, where between 5 and 15 breath intakes per hour fail. The obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form. Obstruction of the airway during sleep is the cause for OSA. Other forms of sleep apnea include CSA, central sleep apnea, which is caused by a failure of the brain to send sufficient signals to initiate the breathing movement. Here we talk about the interconnection between OSA and obesity. But that does not mean obesity is the single cause for sleep apnea, other causes like Diabetes and life style will be dealt with in more articles.

First of all: Don't take this as a just a form of heavy snoring! It is a serious medical condition, which does not only have an immediate effect on the individuals health (insomnia, headaches, daytime fatigue, moodiness). It also negatively affects the overall medical condition. Primarly through periodic unsufficient oxygen supply organs like the liver, kidneys and the heart can be seriously harmed. Strokes are a likely effect as well

Men are more likely and obese individuals are far more likely to have OSA. Obesity can cause large tonsils, enlarged tongue and increased fat in the neck which press on the airway, when the throat (pharyngeal) muscles relax during sleep. Neck circumflexes of 17 inch in men and 16 inches in women count as an indicator for elevated sleep apnea risk.

When obstructive sleep apnea is diagnosed in an obese individual it is most important to act immediately, as sleep apnea has two negative effects that make it even harder for an obese person to find cure without surgery or sleep masks.

1. it gets increasingly hard to maintain a healthy life style and strict workout schedule when the overall physical and psychological conditions gets worse.

2. hunger is often caused by fatique and poor sleep. The reason is an alteration in the satiety hormones through fatigue and their influence on hunger.

3. elevated blood pressure, fasting glucose and high cholesterol are common effects of obesity and worson under sleep deprivation.

4. obesity can lead to sleep apnea, which, itself, then causes derangements of hormones that control eating habits, leading to more weight gain, worsened blood pressure, glucose intolerance.

It’s a vicious cycle that leads to the ever faster deterioration of the obese individuals health. Obesity is never healthy, but in combination with sleep apnoe it becomes a very serious long term medical condition. If you think you might suffer from sleep apnea, you need to consult a doctor and test it in a sleep lab. Once you are diagnosed with sleep apnoe, you will have to follow a plan of healthy living and frequent exercise. But the good news is, that it will dramatically increase your overall well being and improve you life quality dramatically.