There is a variety of treatments for Sleep Apnea, but in some cases it can also be cured! For people who are overweight and suffering from sleep apnea, simply losing some weight can resolve the disorder.
CPAP devices and other oral appliances can ease the symptoms of sleep apnea and provide a better night’s sleep, but they do not actually cure the disorder.
The only cures for obstructive sleep apnea are weight loss, or surgery to remove the excess tissues from the palate and throat that cause sleep apnea. Since surgery is invasive and can have side effects, it’s usually only considered as a last resort.
If you are overweight or obese, the most effective thing you can do to rid yourself of your sleep apnea disorder is to lose some weight!
There is a well established link between sleep apnea and excess weight. People who carry excess weight have extra tissue at the backs of their throats, and this tissue can fall down over the airway, blocking the flow of air into the lungs during sleep. And then you have sleep apnea.
Of course, losing weight is easier said than done. It’s not easy, and requires a variety of lifestyle and dietary changes that can be difficult to undertake. But when it comes to lessening the impact of, and even curing, sleep apnea, it certainly can yield results.
Losing just 10% of your overall body weight can significantly reduce your sleep apnea symptoms, and losing significant amounts of weight can even cure the condition completely.
If you are overweight and also suffering from sleep apnea, weight loss may be the first step in easing your symptoms and even curing the disease.