The Link Between Sleep Apnea and Body Weight
Being overweight can affect your overall health and quality of life. Excess weight can quickly take a toll on your joints, cardiovascular system, and confidence. While genetics play a role, part of the dilemma stems from the troublesome nature of weight loss. For anyone suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), this only adds to the difficulty of weight loss.
As the medical community learns more about sleep apnea, several important links to excess body weight and sleep apnea symptoms surface. For example, obesity and being overweight are both risk factors for sleep apnea because they involve the way you breathe. Consequently, sleep apnea-related issues, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, are irritated when overweight.
Both sleep apnea and obesity go hand-in-hand. It’s important to understand that both influence one another in various ways. Learn more below about the connection between sleep apnea and body weight.
Relieving Sleep Apnea Symptoms Through Weight Loss
Losing weight can be an effective way to reduce your sleep apnea symptoms and help treat your condition. Maintaining a proper exercise routine combined with eating a well-balanced diet can help you achieve a healthy weight and reduce excess tissues around your neck, helping to remove the obstruction blocking your airway.
Additionally, losing weight can make you feel better about yourself as it:
- Boosts your confidence
- Decreases your risk of health conditions
- Improves your sleep quality
Losing just 10 percent of body weight can provide a huge relief from your sleep apnea symptoms. It reduces the associated health risks tied to sleep apnea, such as:
- Heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Strokes
- High blood pressure
Effective, Enjoyable Workouts
Working out can be challenging for anyone. While people know it’s necessary, other things top the priority list. Likewise, tracking your progress can be disheartening if you’re not seeing the results you want.
Fortunately, there are endless ways to stay active and get exercise in. One of the most important components of working out is finding an activity that you thoroughly enjoy. Incorporating this activity into your lifestyle will help you succeed in your weight loss journey. Some fun workouts you may enjoy include:
- Yoga
- Jogging on the beach
- Kickboxing
- Aerobics
- Hiking
- Dancing
- Playing your favorite sport
Adopting a Healthy Diet
In addition to substantial exercise, maintaining a well-balanced diet is just as important for weight loss. Committing to a strict diet long-term can be difficult and unenjoyable. That’s why it’s essential to find a diet that will be effective for you and allows you to still enjoy some of your favorite foods.
Research shows that the Mediterranean diet can greatly improve your sleep apnea symptoms, as well as decrease the risk for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Plus, it’s a great diet for the heart and is enjoyable for many people with its highly favored foods. It’s centered around adding more vegetables and whole foods into your diet and limiting your intake of sweets and foods that are high in fat.
Once you’ve established a routine of eating well and working out, you’ll notice a difference in both your happiness and energy levels.
Your Journey to a Well-Balanced Life
Being cautious and aware of your weight can be a huge benefit for both your health and sleep disorder. Discovering the connection between the two may be intimidating at first, but there are many ways to help combat them both.
If you’re looking for effective sleep apnea treatments, contact Dr. Slobodinsky at his Philadelphia practice. He can help treat your sleep apnea comfortably and affordably. To schedule an appointment, call us at (215) 739-2543 and one of our team members will be happy to assist you.