Posted on 01/14/2020 9:40:15 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
Losing weight is an effective treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), but why exactly this is the case has remained unclear. Now, researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that improvements in sleep apnea symptoms appear to be linked to the reduction of fat in one unexpected body part -- the tongue.
Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure the effect of weight loss on the upper airway in obese patients, researchers found that reducing tongue fat is a primary factor in lessening the severity of OSA. The findings were published today in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
"Most clinicians, and even experts in the sleep apnea world, have not typically focused on fat in the tongue for treating sleep apnea," said Richard Schwab, MD, chief of Sleep Medicine. "Now that we know tongue fat is a risk factor and that sleep apnea improves when tongue fat is reduced, we have established a unique therapeutic target that we've never had before."
Twenty-two million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, a serious health condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts, causing patients to wake up randomly throughout their sleep cycles. The condition, which is usually marked by loud snoring, can increase your risk for high blood pressure and stroke. While obesity is the primary risk factor for developing sleep apnea, there are other causes, such as having large tonsils or a recessed jaw. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines improves sleep apnea in about 75 percent of patients, studies suggest, but for the other 25 percent -- those who may have trouble tolerating the machine -- alternative treatment options, such as oral appliances or upper airway surgery, are more complicated.
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...
I was diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea about 2-1/2 years ago, but found the CPAP machine so distasteful that I gave up on it after a couple of nights.
After moving from sea level to 2,300 feet elevation, my apnea got worse, so I'm trying it again. I have far more problem with "Central" apnea than obstructive apnea ("Central" is where the brain stops commanding you to breathe while you are sleeping). From the literature I've read, the CPAP machine may help with Central Apnea after three months, so that's my goal.
So far I've learned that even half-doses of Unisom sleep aids make the apnea problem about THREE times worse for me.
Now if I could find a way to put my tongue on a diet...
I use a CPAP every night and have learned to tolerate it. Makes the wife happy, as I won't snore while using it. Meanwhile, trying to lose weight because I hear that may help. Problem is I like eating but gotta cut back. Sucks using a CPAP mask but I do sleep better - it is useful.
Study Finds Tongue Fat Can Lead to Sleep Apnea
Losing tongue fat would certainly improve all Democrats.
Losing heads would also “improve all Democrats” as well as eliminate sleep apnea.
Can they do Liposuction on the tongue?
Thanks alot- Now i can’t Whistle!
I had the same problem of my breathing stopping even before I fell asleep that developed immediately after an acute exacerbation event last May. It happened several times after and I developed some horrible syndrome from it, fear of going to sleep. I solved the problem pretty much by 1) not eating after 5:00 pm. 2) no naps. It was hard to give those up too, lol. There was a third, but can’t remember now what it was.
From what I’ve read, central sleep apnea requires a more sophisticated machine then a basic CPAP. The doctors will argue with you up and down which type of sleep apnea you have. I’ve been there.
So should we, like, wag it or something?
I’ve dealt with sleep apnea my entire life. As an adult I gained a lot of weight and it got much worse. Recently I’ve lost about 65 pounds and working on losing about 30 more and my sleep apnea has improved but I still use a cpap.
I got my cpap about 10 years ago and had problems at first. Worked hard to get used to it and once I did it transformed my sleeping. I used to have to take naps at work - no more. Energy levels went up. I’ll always use my machine.
It’s called a bi-pap and I was prescribed one in April. Started my weight loss in june and am down 65 pounds since. Having a new study done to reduce the pressure of my device - loss of that much fat has allowed the machine to push air into my gut and I’m waking up in a lot of pain.
Thanks. I didn’t search because I thought “Who would post a story about losing tongue fat”?
Does sleeping with the upper body at a 45 degree angle affect obstructive sleep apnea?
I was a fat sh!+ w/ apnea and then lost 40 pounds. Now the CPAP is collecting dust.
Maybe the reverse? Let all their tongues grow fat and block their airways so they are gasping for air. Even fatter tongues (to go with their fat heads) and maybe they will suffocate — as they are suffocating the Republic.
Tongue liposuction? Yes. See #4 above by Zhang Fei.
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