Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder in which breathing is interrupted repeatedly during sleep. “APNEA” means a breathing pause that lasts about 10 seconds. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is most common in people who are overweight.

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The Link Between
Sleep Apnea and Obesity

2. Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder in which breathing is interrupted repeatedly during sleep.
“APNEA” means a breathing pause that lasts about 10 seconds. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is
most common in people who are overweight.
Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler, president of the
American Academy of Sleep Medicine, says sleep
apnea is destroying the health of many Americans.
About 25 million adults in the U.S. are suffering
from OSA. The American Journal of Epidemiology
further notes that the increasing case of sleep
apnea is most likely due to the growing number of
obesity cases.
Connection of Sleep Apnea and Obesity
Obstructive sleep apnea is much more common in
overweight people, due to the airways blocked by
large tonsils and excessive fat, which press the
airways when the throat muscles are relaxed
during sleep. Obese men with a 17-inch or wider
neck circumference and obese women with a 16-
inch or wider neck are more likely to have sleep
apnea.
People associated with sleep apnea, as well as poor sleeping conditions, tend to eat more than the
average meal. Some sleeping disorders may also be the result of factors such as stress level, room
temperature, and uncomfortable beddings. The National Sleep Foundation says that the combination
of sleep disturbance and oxygen starvation can lead to heart disease, hypertension, and mood
problems.

3. Treating Sleep Apnea
Treating obstructive sleep apnea is important
to a person’s health as it can be a significant
threat to safety. Continuous positive airway
pressure (CPAP) therapy, oral appliance
therapy and surgery are the options to cure
OSA.
The most popular and effective treatment is
CPAP, which is applied through a mask that is
placed over the mouth and/or nose. It
delivers air pressure to keep the airway open.
The mask is attached to a CPAP machine that
acts as an air compressor.
Some oral devices treat sleep apnea. The jaw-
advancing device is a mouthpiece customized by
dentists using a plastic-like mold to fit the
patient’s teeth and mouth. This device works
against sleep apnea and stops snoring during
sleep.
Surgery can be a risky option to treat sleep
apnea, but some cases may require it. Surgeons
recommend surgery depending on the severity of
the disorder, the patient’s body structure, and
his or her existing health condition.

4. Resources:
http://www.dreamworlddesign.com
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sleepapnea
http://www.sleepapnea.org/treat/diagnosis.html