Obesity and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are two major health conditions that are intricately connected. Understanding this link is key to effective treatment.
What is OSA?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Underlying conditions, genetics, sex, age, and weight influence your likelihood of developing OSA. Weight, primarily obesity, is a major risk factor for OSA.
How Does Obesity Impact OSA?
The extra weight, especially around the neck, can narrow the airway, making it more likely to collapse during sleep. Additionally, fat deposits on the chest and abdomen can compress the lungs, making breathing more difficult. Having a large neck circumference increases the risk of developing OSA, this is defined as over 17 inches for men and over 16 inches for women.
How Does OSA Impact Obesity?
OSA decreases the quality of sleep, which can lead to chronic fatigue. Poor sleep from OSA disrupts the hormones that regulate hunger, specifically it can increase the hunger hormone ghrelin and decrease the satiety hormone leptin. This imbalance can increase appetite and cravings for unhealthy foods, making weight loss difficult. Coupled with chronic fatigue, this can lead to a decrease in physical activity, further contributing to weight gain.
Can OSA Be Treated?
The relationship between obesity and OSA is a powerful example of how interconnected our health is. By addressing one condition, you can positively impact the other. Weight loss, even a modest amount, can significantly reduce OSA symptoms by decreasing fat tissue around the airway. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy is another common treatment that uses a machine to keep the airway open during sleep.
Clinical Trials
If you have been told you have OSA, or obesity, it is important to speak with your doctor about lifestyle modification, and/or medications that can improve your conditions. Taking these steps can improve your quality of life and reduce your risk for other serious health issues. At Chase Medical Research, we are enrolling for several clinical trials that are investigating different drugs to help manage weight and will be enrolling for numerous trials for OSA. Call us today at (203) 419-4404 to find out if you are eligible to participate in this innovative research!
