Can Losing Weight Help With Sleep Apnea?
Key Takeaways
Excess weight is a major risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea because it can contribute to narrowing of the airway and interrupted breaking while you sleep.
Losing weight isn’t necessarily a cure for sleep apnea because some people continue to experience symptoms even after significant weight loss.
Untreated sleep apnea can affect overall health and well-being because it can cause daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, and metabolic issues.
Ongoing symptoms of sleep apnea should be evaluated by a dentist to help determine what treatment is needed.
If you snore loudly, wake up gasping for air, or still feel exhausted after a full night’s sleep, having extra weight might be part of the problem. Sleep apnea, especially Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), is closely linked with body weight because being overweight can increase your risk of developing OSA, or potentially worsen its symptoms. While weight loss can improve sleep apnea, depending on its severity and underlying causes, you may still need treatment.
To schedule an in-person appointment, call our office at 703-323-8200, or you can schedule a virtual consultation with Dr. Marzban to discuss any sleep concerns and questions about oral appliances.
How Does Weight Affect Sleep Apnea?
OSA occurs when the upper airway repeatedly becomes blocked or narrowed during sleep, which causes breathing to temporarily stop and restart. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine indicates that adults with excessive weight is a major predisposing factor for OSA. There are several reasons why excess body weight is a major risk factor for OSA.
Excess weight can increase the amount of fatty tissue around the neck and upper airway, which narrows the space available for airflow and increases the risk of breathing interruptions during sleep.
Extra weight can make it harder for your lungs to fully expand and for you to breathe efficiently, which may contribute to a narrower airway and increase the risk of developing OSA or worsening symptoms.
Excess body fat can affect certain hormones that play a role in how your body regulates breathing during sleep.
Not getting enough sleep can disrupt the hormones that help regulate hunger and appetite. When you’re sleep-deprived, levels of leptin, which help signal fullness, may decrease, while ghrelin, which stimulates hunger, may increase. These changes can make you feel hungrier and may contribute to overeating and weight gain.
Can Losing Weight Improve Sleep Apnea?
Research has found that losing weight can improve OSA because this lowers Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), a measure of how often breathing stops or becomes reduced during each hour of sleep. Weight loss can improve symptoms such as:
Daytime sleepiness
Poor sleep quality
Morning headaches
Difficulty concentrating
If you continue to snore, wake up gasping, experience excessive daytime sleepiness, or have other symptoms after losing weight, it’s important to have a consultation with a dentist that specializes in treating sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can have several contributing factors, and excess body weight is just one of them. Depending on your symptoms, treatment options can include:
Custom oral appliances like the MicrO₂® and EMA®
Sleep apnea appliance
Diet and lifestyle changes
What Happens If You Don't Treat Sleep Apnea?
Leaving sleep apnea untreated can affect more than your quality of sleep. If left untreated, OSA can cause daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, and metabolic issues. Getting diagnosed and treated can help reduce these risks and improve your overall quality of life.
Sleep Apnea Treatment at Marzban, DDS, in Burke
If you’re snoring, wake up gasping for air, have daytime fatigue, or other signs of sleep apnea, don’t continue to suffer. Dr. Marzban specializes in sleep apnea, and customizes each treatment based on every individual's needs and symptoms. If you’re not sure if you have sleep apnea, Dr. Marzban can provide you with the WatchPAT™ in-home diagnostic tool to help you determine if treatment will be necessary. Contact our office to schedule a consultation by calling 703-323-8200 or filling out our online form. Our office is located in Burke, and we also serve patients in Fairfax, Fairfax Station, and Northern Virginia.
FAQs
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Weight loss can significantly improve OSA, but it’s not a cure. Studies have found that many people continue to have sleep apnea even after substantial weight loss.
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The three primary types of sleep apnea are:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)⎯This is the most common type which is caused by a blocked airway.
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)⎯This type of sleep apnea happens when the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe.
Complex (Mixed) Sleep Apnea⎯A combination of OSA and CSA.
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Dr. Pamela Marzban is the only dentist in the Burke, Fairfax, Fairfax Station, and Northern Virginia area offering WatchPAT™, an FDA-approved portable home sleep testing device. The WatchPAT™ makes it easy to get accurate sleep data from the comfort of your own bed—no overnight lab visit required. It records breathing patterns, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and sleep stages to determine whether you have sleep apnea and how severe it is. Once your data is analyzed, Dr. Marzban creates a personalized treatment plan designed around your specific airway and sleep patterns.
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Loud snoring is a common sign of sleep apnea, but you can have sleep apnea without noticeable snoring. Some people may have other symptoms, such as daytime fatigue, morning headaches, trouble concentrating, restless sleep, or waking up gasping for air.
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OSA is a manageable sleep condition, but can’t always be permanently cured. Effective treatments like oral appliances, lifestyle changes, and other therapies can significantly reduce symptoms, improve sleep, and day-to-day life.
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CPAP isn’t the only treatment for sleep apnea. The right treatment depends on the type and severity of sleep apnea, as well as a patient’s unique needs.
