Does Sleep Apnea Cause Weight Gain? How Does It Affect The Body?
Weight gain is a problem most of us might have faced at some point in our life. Usually attributed to our eating habits, that is not however the only reason why one gains weight. Some health conditions also cause the sufferer to gain weight. Some diseases also come along with symptoms that can cause sudden weight gain.
So if you are embarking on a weight loss journey, it is better to make sure you aren’t suffering from any ailments that are holding you back from getting that perfect figure. This blog will discuss and make it easier for you to understand if sleep apnea can cause weight gain.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
You might have heard of various sleep disorders that people suffer from. So sleep apnea belongs to one of them. It is a disorder that is characterized by labored breathing patterns that don’t allow a sound sleep.
As a result, the person feels fatigued throughout the day to perform any tasks or in the worst case with bad mood swings that are hard to manage. We will be looking at its symptoms and causes in the following paragraphs in detail.
Major Symptoms Of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea isn’t hard to diagnose as it manifests itself in many ways. Some of them are-
◾ Uncontrollable snoring-So next time don’t make fun of the person lying next to you for snoring. Chances are they might have sleep apnea.
â—¾ Might not be able to fall asleep– Some people are insomniac by choice we are not talking about them.
â—¾ Diarnal sleeping– As they find it difficult to sleep during the night, they do so during the day.
â—¾ Lack of attention-Due to insomnia, the patients often suffer from short-term attention disorder also.
â—¾ Severe headache-We believe this one is self-explanatory.
Does Sleep Apnea Cause Weight Gain?
Yes. According to various studies, sleep apnea can be a major reason why you might be putting on some weight. There are three types of sleep apnea including obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and treat-emergent central sleep apnea.
While the former was caused by disoriented breathing, the latter can be attributed to signaling problems in the nervous system. So basically along with proper diet, work out and hydration, a person also should get at least 7 hours of sleep to achieve weight loss healthily.
A lack of the same can trigger many problems in the functioning of our body. Out of these, the ones that impact weight gain include-
1. Hunger pangs– Due to our cycle not being proper, we end up eating at various times which leads to hunger at odds.
2. An irrational sense of cravings-Misfirings in neurons also cause immense cravings for carbs which you know are a major reason for weight gain.
3. Overflow of hormones- A lot of our body works in harmony thanks to the hormones but they also need a lot of sleep to function.
4. Overproduction of Insulin, Leptin, and Ghrelin-All the three should be at minimal levels for the weight loss regimen to work but if you have sleep apnea, it isn’t the case.
5. Weakness– Overall weakness can leave us unable to engage in physical activity.
Treatment For Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea can be both mild as well as severe. The mild ones can be treated without intervention however the serious ones need medical intervention. This can be both invasive and noninvasive.
Some of them are-
- Continuous Positive airway pressure
- Other devices to be worn include Bilevel positive airway pressure.
- Uvuolopaptherapy- This is a removal of a certain tissue causing distress while breathing.
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Implants like soft rods
- Hypoglossal nerve stimulation
- Tracheostomy- creates a different path for breathing
- Jaw relocation
Before opting for any of these, make sure you are well cognizant of its risks and changes it might bring to your life.
When Should You Go See A Doctor?
Summary
Sleep apnea and weight gain are correlated. One can cause the other and vice versa therefore it is important that you be attentive to smaller changes. Losing weight is good not just for sleep apnea but for your overall development.
In case you are diagnosed with one make sure you visit your health care provider and communicate your distress as clearly as possible. You have to remember sleep also decides how much weight one loses.
Also read: Does Cymbalta Cause Weight Gain? How It Affects The Weight!
