Obesity and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obesity has long been associated with obstructive sleep apnea. Although the disease is more prevalent in men, it goes more often undiagnosed in women. Unfortunately, many people are not aware that the snoring that may wake them up at night may be a mucha much more serious obesity-related condition that can have dire health implications.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea, the other silent killer

We think of hypertension as the silent killer, but obstructive sleep apnea really does the same thing. Obstructive sleep apnea is a health condition that is defined as an absence of breathing during sleep. People with obstructive sleep apnea usually stop breathing for 10 to 20 seconds during sleep, sometimes as often as 20 to 30 times in an hour or more. These pauses in breathing lead to many serious health concerns such as high blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat. People who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea are also much more prone to heart attacks and strokes.

Not only are there Therisks go far beyond the before mentioned serious health conditions,people who have obstructive sleep apnea do not get a good night’s sleep. This chronic fatigue leads to daytime sleepiness, increasing their risk due to inattentiveness, such as driving accidents. Obstructive sleep apnea is not only a dangerous condition for the person who suffers from it, but considering the risk of driving accidents, it creates a public-health concern as well.

Sleep apnea in the obese: an underdiagnosed condition

Obviously, nobody would consciously endanger themselves or others. Unfortunately, most obese persons who have obstructive sleep apnea are not aware of it or do not understand the implications of the disease on their health. The symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea are not always clearand many people attribute them symptoms of sleep apnea to other conditions. Here are some of the symptoms of sleep apnea:

• Daytime sleepiness and fatigue
• Restless sleep
• Snoring
• Vision problems
• Depression, mood swings and/or irritability
• Slow reaction time and information processing
• Headaches

Most studies have estimated that 30 to 50 percent of people who suffer from obesity have sleep apnea. However, a 2005 study by University Hospitals of Cleveland found that 9 out of 10 (90%) patients(90%) tested prior to bariatric surgery had sleep apneaa, , while only 19 percent had a prior diagnosis and were being treated for it.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Doctors diagnose obstructive sleep apnea by carefully reviewing the patient’s symptoms and doing a sleep study. Becky McAndrews, PA-C, can screen patients for obstructive sleep apnea. The first line of evaluation can be done with a home monitoring test. If further diagnosis is necessary, an overnight sleep test can be performed at the institution of the patient’s choice. This test involves monitoring of brain waves, respiration and oxygen levels in the blood, muscle tension including eye movement, heart rate and blood pressure.

The most commonly employed treatment, continuous positive airway pressure (C-PAP), has been shown to reduce the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. However, C-PAP does not cure obstructive sleep apnea. Both medical and surgical studies have demonstrated that as little as a 10 percent weight reduction is associated with a more than 50 percent reduction of obstructive sleep apnea.

Weight loss surgery can resolve Obstructive Sleep Apnea

In the case of significant excess weight, though, weight loss surgery can provide an option for patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. Studies have shown that all types of weight loss surgeries, such as the Gastric Bypass, the Lap Band Procedure Surgery and the Gastric Sleeve Gastrectomy, can be effective in treating obstructive sleep apnea. Weight loss surgery helps improve or resolve obstructive sleep apnea because it gives patients an additional tool to lose a significant amount of weight and keep it off.

SignificantNoteworthy improvements can be seen as quickly as one week after surgery. Most of Dr. Tim Ehrlich’s patients are able to resolve their sleep apnea within two months. If you would like to learn more about weight loss surgery and its role in the resolution of many of the diseases associated with obesity, please register for a free seminar. Dr. Tim Ehrlich is passionate about improving the health of his patients and enjoys explaining the benefits of weight loss surgery. Learning about the gastric bypass, the lap-band or the sleeve gastrectomy can help you improve your health and give you a tool to take control of your life.