Wondering if there’s a connection between sleep apnea and weight gain?
Sleep apnea and weight gain, depending on the nature of your sleeping problems, can be connected in more ways than one. Being able to sleep properly and for long enough is an important part of living a healthy lifestyle, and when you’re unable to achieve that due to an issue like sleep apnea, the other aspects of your health may begin to suffer. Weight gain is one area that may be impacted by your sleep habits in a big way, and it can be a two-way street.
Sleep Issues and Weight Gain
When we don’t get enough sleep, it creates an imbalance in our hormones. This includes the hormones responsible for managing hunger, blood sugar and our appetites. As a result of this, when you fail to get an adequate amount of sleep you’re more likely to feel hunger. Unfortunately, many of us end up eating something particularly filling when we feel like this, meaning we go after the carbs! If you’re tired from not sleeping enough the night before, it becomes much more difficult for your body to turn food into energy. Not being able to use the food efficiently, in addition to disrupted blood sugar levels, means the extra carbs and sugars will end up turning into fat (and more inches on your waistline).
So we know that unsound sleep can lead to weight gain. But weight gain can also lead to another sleep issue entirely, which in turn can make additional weight gain a very real possibility.
Gaining Weight and Sleep Apnea: A Vicious Cycle
Not getting enough rest can carry many health issues with it, including high blood pressure, elevated stress levels and arthritis. Weight gain is also a notable side effect, not just for its negative impacts on your health, but because it can cause sleep apnea.
If you’re overweight, you may have fat deposits in your neck that can interfere with your breathing while you’re asleep. The obstructed airways associated with sleep apnea will make it difficult to get proper night’s sleep, and this, in turn, can add to the weight gain that led to the apnea in the first place. Additionally, sleep apnea can lead to your body releasing larger amounts of the hormone that creates cravings for sweets and carbohydrates.
In other words, not only does weight gain lead to sleep apnea, but the sleep apnea makes it even harder to lose the weight. To make matters worse, if left untreated, the extra pounds you gain from sleep apnea can lead to increased risk for headaches, diabetes, depression and heart disease.
End the Cycle of Weight Gain and Sleep Apnea
Losing weight when you have sleep apnea is a difficult task. Being sleep-deprived can undo even the most determined dieting, but there are ways to break the cycle. If you enlist the help of something that could keep the symptoms of sleep apnea at bay, you could get better sleep and improve your chances of losing weight in a big way.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, a CPAP machine might be the answer. It provides a continuous flow of air to keep your breathing passages open while you sleep, getting rid of the sudden awakenings associated with sleep apnea. Use of the machine wouldn’t necessarily be permanent — in many cases, people use CPAP machines until they’ve lost enough weight to breathe properly on their own again.
Don’t stay stuck in the endless cycle of sleep apnea and weight gain. Contact Us to learn more about how a CPAP machine can help you sleep better and get healthier.