The Reason For Weight Gain You Never Saw Coming: Sleep Apnea

Are you one of the countless people who’s always attempting to lose “those last 10 pounds?” If so, you’ve probably tried all the usual things: eating less and moving more, adding more protein to your diet and eating lots of veggies. So, what gives? It’s one thing if you can’t lose weight because you’re not doing the right things, but it’s especially frustrating when the scale won’t budge even after you’ve put the effort in. If you can relate to this, there may be one thing you haven’t thought of – sleep apnea. It’s estimated that 22 million Americans have obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, with 80% of them being undiagnosed! If you’d like to know more about this sneaky risk factor for weight gain, keep reading to learn more about what researchers are saying.

What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea occurs when the airway continually becomes obstructed while sleeping, preventing proper airflow and breathing.

It may sound obvious, but it can be difficult to know if you have OSA because many of the symptoms occur overnight while you’re sleeping.

Here are a few of the signs you might notice if you suffer from this condition:

• Snoring or sudden gasping for air while sleeping. If you have a partner, oftentimes they’ll notice this symptom first!
• Waking up frequently throughout the night.
• Feeling tired, groggy or irritable throughout the day – despite sleeping for 7-9 hours.
• Chronically having a dry mouth or sore throat in the morning.

What Does the Research Say?

When it comes to the link between OSA and weight gain, it’s a classic question of which came first, the chicken or the egg? While researchers haven’t come to any definitive conclusions, they suspect that obesity and OSA are actually a vicious cycle where one contributes to the other.

For example, obesity can initially contribute to sleep apnea because fat deposits in the neck can cause airways to become obstructed.

On the other hand, if a person of normal weight develops the condition it can lead to weight gain by producing changes in hormones, appetite and energy levels.

How Can You Know For Sure If You Have Sleep Apnea?

One of the best ways to confirm whether you have OSA or not is to schedule a consultation with a dentist who has received advanced training in sleep apnea. This way you can be evaluated and possibly referred for a sleep study that can test your breathing while you sleep.

Your dentist can also discuss your options for an oral appliance that can potentially offer relief from this condition without using a CPAP machine. This device can help you breathe better and may make it easier for you to lose weight. Your dentist can help you determine which treatment is best for you.

Knowledge is power! And in this case, it can help you seek out treatment that can not only improve the quality of your sleep, but your life as well.

About the Author

Dr. J. Peter St. Clair is dedicated to providing comprehensive dental care that will help his patients have their best life. By pursuing advanced education in specialty areas of dentistry, including dental sleep medicine, he hopes to provide the “missing link” between oral health and sleep quality. If you have further questions about sleep apnea, he can be reached through his website or at (978) 948-2030.