Response Provided by Dr. Kasey Li
Feb. 18, 2009
Weight and airway factors are the two major contributors of sleep apnea. The contribution of weight in sleep apnea is very complex and not well understood. For some people, weight gain can increase the fat pads in the throat and may contribute to narrowing of the airway. The increased fat pad may also increase the collapsibility of the airway.
Weight in the belly reduces the lung volume and contributes to shallow breathing. Shallow breathing in very over weight patients is known as obesity hypoventilation syndrome and these patients are not good surgical candidates.
The problem is that there is great variability in how sleep apnea responds to weight changes. Sleep apnea can improve significantly in some patients but have insignificant changes in others with a 10-20% loss of body weight.
My recommendation is that getting in shape and trying to reduce weight are always great. Additionally, one must NOT gain a significant amount of weight after surgery as it can counteract the improvement of the airway.
Best of luck,
KKL |
