30 Days to Better Sleep: Focus on Weight Loss

Your ability to sleep well at night may be profoundly affected by being overweight or obese. The extra weight may contribute to various sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, and restless legs syndrome. There is a complex interplay between sleep and metabolism, and sleep deprivation may contribute to weight gain. What is the best way to lose weight? Focus on weight loss, including diet and exercise, and you may find that you are able to sleep better. The greatest concern related to being overweight or obese is the effect that this can have on breathing during sleep.  The most commonly associated condition is obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is the collapse of the upper airway during sleep. This may occur scores or even hundreds of times during a night. It disrupts the flow of air into the lungs, leading to drops in the blood's oxygen levels. When the brain recognizes this, an awakening is triggered, disrupting sleep. Therefore, sleep becomes fragmented and is not fully refreshing. In the setting of obesity, increased levels of carbon dioxide during sleep may lead to the diagnosis of obesity hypoventilation syndrome. How does excessive weight cause sleep apnea? There is increased fat (or adipose) tissue throughout the body. This may increase the size of a belly or bum, but it also lines the airway with padding. In combination with a large stomach that pushes upward when lying on the back, the pressure can more easily collap...
Source: About Sleep Disorders - Category: Sleep Medicine Source Type: news