A great place to start Disorder information source Rated and Reviewed Sleep Links Entrance to all monitored Sleep Forums Search all of Sleepnet.com


Sleep Apnea
Forum Posting


Archived Apnea Forum107 viewing only. To post a new topic go to the Apnea Forum Homepage.

Re: OSA and weight

Posted by RickZ on December 20, 2002 at 09:31:55:

In Reply to: OSA and weight posted by johnnewmexico on December 19, 2002 at 12:29:00:

I don't know of any specific studies re: your question; however, it's a myth that sleep apnea is due only to obesity. (Also, I suspect that such a link varies from country to country).

Sleep apnea and obesity are definitely related: there are some people who's breathing passage is closed or "clogged" due solely to extreme obseity. Losing lots of weight may completely cure such cases.

I'm an Oriental, though, and I have moderate apnea (in fact, asians are about twice as likely as whites to have apnea, and it seems due to cranimaxial reasons than obesity unlike in the US).

Other factors include large tonsils/adenoids and/or a large tongue; an abnormally narrow throat; jawbone issues, etc. A very recent study even indicates that brain damage, causing a loss of throat control, may be an underlying factor in some cases. (If this is true-if a neurological reason also exists, then perhaps, this explains the correlation between apnea and PLMD (also a neurological condition).)



Follow Ups:


Archived Apnea Forum107 viewing only. To post a new topic go to the Apnea Forum Homepage

  • IMPORTANT : Information not intended as medical advice. If you suspect that you have a sleep disorder you should seek care from a qualified professional. Read Terms of Use.
  • The Sleep Forums are not to be used for commercial purposes.
  • Commercial products and services are not endorsed by Sleepnet.com.
  • Sleep Deprivation due to Sleep Apnea and insufficient sleep are common and can present as insomnia, narcolepsy, or idiopathic hypersomnia. In infants and children sleep problems commonly present themselves as ADD or ADHD.


Copyright ©1995-2005 Sleepnet.com., All rights reserved