Obesity is linked to obstructive sleep apnea, sleep disorders, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and osteoarthritis. The prevalence of obesity in the US is 42%, and at least 30% of people with a BMI over 30 kg/m2 suffer from insomnia. People suffering from obesity are at higher risk of having obstructive sleep apnea. This is a disorder that can cause many types of health problems. According to doctors, at least 30% of people with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30 kg/m2 and 98% of people with a BMI of 40 kg/m2 suffer from this disease, which is considered a silent killer.
What does research say?
A study published in the ‘Journal of the American Medical Association’ last month on obesity management in adults said that the prevalence of obesity in the US is 42% and it is associated with sleep disorders, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoarthritis and Is associated with increasing rate. According to the news published in ‘Times of India’, Dr. GC Khilnani, President of PSRI Institute of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, said that this is an alarm bell for us because the cases of sleep apnea are increasing due to the obesity epidemic. . He said that according to the 2023 study ‘Obesity and abdominal obesity in the Indian population’ recently published in the National Library of Medicine, at least 13.8% of Indians aged 18-54 years are obese and 57.7% are obese. There is obesity.
Sleep apnea is very dangerous
Dr. Khilnani said that sleep apnea can be diagnosed through sleep study. He said lack of physical activity and consumption of fast food are contributing factors. This has long-term effects on health as childhood obesity usually continues into adulthood. Dr JC Suri, Director of Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, said studies have shown that each unit increase in BMI can increase the severity of sleep apnea and each unit decrease can lead to improvement. Could.
Sleep apnea increases due to obesity
Not all obese people may develop sleep apnea. In the case of people who have a short pharynx, any excess accumulation of fat around the walls of the upper airway or tongue due to obesity causes the passage to become narrower. The extreme form of sleep apnea in obese people is called obesity hypoventilation syndrome, in which breathing becomes slow. The incidence starts increasing at a BMI of 30. It is a progressive disease and leads to various cardiovascular complications.
Dr Navneet Sood, senior consultant, pulmonology and sleep medicine at Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, said, “Fat accumulation in the upper airway area can cause blockage of the airway during sleep, resulting in stopped or shallow breathing. May occur, which is characteristic of sleep apnea. Losing weight is very important for managing the disorder. We strongly recommend treatment modalities such as continuous positive airway pressure therapy and other interventions, as well as lifestyle modifications, such as dietary changes and increased physical activity. Dr Vivek Nangia, Principal Director and Head (Pulmonology), Max Super Specialty Hospital, Saket, also stressed on the importance of weight loss in managing prevalent health problems like sleep apnea.
Disclaimer: Before implementing the method, methods and suggestions mentioned in this article, please consult a doctor or related expert.
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