Obesity affects millions of individuals across America. Researchers have seen a clear link between obesity and sleep apnea. Studies study show that weight loss surgeries, including gastric bypass, are an effective tool to treat obesity and by extension to resolve sleep apnea. Our professionals can help you develop a tailored weight loss surgical program designed to meet your needs. We encourage you to learn more about how weight loss surgery may be able to benefit you.
The Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Obesity
Obesity is one of the primary factors in this condition. Sleep apnea is a serious health condition. It leads to an increase in your risk for stroke, heart attack, and other fatal health conditions. CPAP machines are an effective and traditional treatment for sleep apnea, but not everyone can use the machine because of a number of reasons.
With this condition, the soft tissues in the throat periodically collapse. This means that for a short period of time, the individual stop breathing. This causes the person to struggle for air, a reaction which interrupts the sleeping cycle and deprives the person of much-needed rest and relaxation. Many experience notable fluctuations in their blood pressure, and more serious side effects include total cessation of breathing and cardiac arrhythmias.
When a person is battling sleep apnea, they usually start breathing again only after their body loudly gasps in air or jerks forcefully. The wide majority of those who have this condition can be classified as obese. As such, there is a direct link between a person’s weight and their risk for this condition.
Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgery may be the most effective way to treat obstructive sleep apnea. There are a number of weight loss surgeries that have helped obese individuals address their sleep apnea. When a person is obese, they have more fatty tissue that surrounds their upper airway. When they sleep, the muscles of their body, including the muscles of the throat, relax. The excess weight of the soft tissue that surrounds these muscles begins to partially or completely collapse the airways. After weight loss surgery, the fat around these areas is drastically reduced, which for many patients is enough to correct their sleep troubles.
Contact Us for More Information
Are you concerned about the long-term effects that obesity and sleep apnea are having on your health? Would you like to know if you qualify for weight loss surgery? If so, we warmly welcome you to get in touch and make an appointment at The Center for Metabolic and Obesity Surgery! At our location in Maitland, FL, our caring team of devoted professionals will be happy to explain your options in full, address any questions or concerns you may have, and help you reclaim a healthy full night’s sleep. Contact us today to set up your consultation!
