Do you ever face the problem of snoring and imagine how annoying it can be? If you experience heavy snoring, it means you have a problem called sleep apnea. This is a condition in which your breath stops for a short time while sleeping. Interrupting your sleep schedule will lead to various health conditions, and one of them is gaining weight.
A great number of people are overweight because of sleep apnea. The fact is that if you are overweight, then you have more chance of getting sleep apnea. This is because pressure occurs on your airways when you sleep, making it harder for you to breathe at night.
In this guide, we will discuss the question, Does sleep apnea cause weight gain? Or is overweight the reason for sleep apnea? But these two problems happen together. Sleep apnea is the reason for weight gain, and being overweight increases the chance of sleep apnea.
Understanding Sleep Apnea
Many people get confused about sleep apnea. This is a condition in which the breathing process stops for a short time. And it happens because the muscles in your throat get to relax for a few minutes and block the way of air. In this situation, your body responds quickly, and you wake up to breathe again. This will occur mostly during the night, which makes you tired.
There are two main types of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): This is the most common type. It happens when the muscles in your throat relax and block your airway.
- Central Sleep Apnea: This type happens when your brain doesn’t tell your muscles to breathe properly.
Link Between Sleep Apnea and Weight Gain
Both problems occur together, and if you are overweight, then there is an increased chance that you will get sleep apnea. Because extra weight puts pressure on your lungs and presses the throat, which makes it hard for your airways to stay open.
Sleep apnea leads to hormonal changes that lead to weight gain. The main reason is that when you do not sleep properly, it can affect ghrelin, the hunger hormone in your. After this night, cravings increase, and you eat too much and don’t do exercises, which makes it hard to lose weight.
Cycle of Weight Gain and Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea and weight gain can make each other worse, creating a tough situation. Here’s how it happens:
- Weight Gain: Being overweight increases the chance of getting sleep apnea. Being overweight can press your throat, making it hard for your breathing passage to stay open.
- Sleep Apnea: When sleep apnea occurs, it is hard to lose weight. Interruption in sleep will affect the hunger hormones and how much the body uses energy. Your hunger increased, and after some time, you did not manage your weight.
- More Weight Gain: Because sleep apnea makes it tough to lose weight, it can lead to even more weight gain.
For further clarification, here is a table that summarizes how weight gain and sleep apnea can interact and reinforce each other, creating a challenging cycle to manage.
|
Factor |
Impact on Weight Gain |
Impact on Sleep Apnea |
|
Weight Gain |
Increases risk of sleep apnea |
Can worsen sleep apnea |
|
Sleep Apnea |
Disrupts sleep and metabolism |
Can lead to further weight gain |
|
Hormonal Imbalance |
Increases appetite, slows metabolism |
Contributes to weight gain |
|
Lifestyle Factors |
Can contribute to weight gain |
Can worsen sleep apnea |
Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
CPAP is basically the continuous positive airway pressure that is the way to treat sleep apnea. You have to wear a mask while you sleep, which helps you to send a gentle flow of air to your mouth and nose. This is most affected because many people find that using this method will help them sleep well.
Oral Appliances
Oral appliances are special types of mouthpieces made just for you. They fit well on your teeth and help you to keep your throat open by moving your jaw or tongue in a better position. If people have mild or moderate sleep apnea, then it's necessary to apply oral appliances.
Lifestyle Changes
Along with medical treatments, making some changes in your daily life can help with sleep apnea and make you healthier. Here are some things you can try:
- Losing weight: Having a lot of weight, losing some weight will help you a lot and help you to sleep well.
- Avoiding alcohol and sedatives: When you avoid harming things like alcohol and sedatives, it will help you to relax your muscles.
- Quitting smoking: Smoking can irritate your airways and make it harder to breathe.
- Sleeping on your side: Getting laid on your back will reduce sleep apnea. Finding a healthy way to relax will help you improve your sleep.
- Managing stress: Stress can make sleep apnea worse. Finding healthy ways to relax can improve your sleep.
FAQs
Is it hard to lose weight with sleep apnea?
Ofcourse, it is difficult to lose weight with sleep apnea. This condition disrupts sleep and disturbs the body's hormones that control your hunger. This will make it harder for you to manage your weight, and you will gain too much weight.
Can sleep apnea cause rapid weight gain?
Sleep apnea does not directly affect your weight and causes weight gain. It takes part in such changes that will lead to an increase in weight.
Why does sleep apnea cause belly fat?
When you have sleep apnea, it will take part in belly fat due to various factors, including hormonal imbalances. It can increase cortisol levels and slow metabolism.
Why do CPAP users gain weight?
After the research, CPAP therapy finds the effective and best treatment for sleep apnea and improves your sleep quality. Some CPAP users may gain weight due to other factors, such as improving sleep, leading to increased activity levels.