Weight loss reduces obstructive sleep apnoea in obese men, with the greatest effect seen in patients with severe disease, according to new research published on bmj.com today.
Obstructive sleep apnoea is a common sleep disorder characterised by pauses in breathing during sleep. Each episode (apnoea) lasts for at least 10 seconds and is caused by the collapse of the upper airways during sleep.
Moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnoea (defined as 15 or more apnoeas per hour) carries an excess risk of motor vehicle crashes, heart disease and death. Yet only one study has examined the effects of weight loss on obstructive sleep apnoea.
So researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden set out to evaluate whether treatment with a low energy diet reduces moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnoea in obese men.
The study involved 63 obese men (BMI 30-40) aged 30-65 years with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea who were being treated with continuous positive airway pressure (a mask designed to help breathing during sleep).
Thirty men received a liquid very low energy diet for seven weeks to promote weight loss, followed by two weeks of gradual introduction of normal food. The remaining men acted as a control group by adhering to their usual diet over the nine weeks.
Both groups attended regular clinical examinations throughout the study to measure weight, waist circumference, and body fat, and to test dietary compliance. For the diet group, each visit also included a one hour group session to build group support and provide motivation.
At the start of the study, both groups had a mean apnoea hypopnoea index (AHI) of 37 apnoeas per hour. At week nine, the diet group had a mean AHI of 12 events per hour compared with 35 events per hour in the control group.
The diet group also lost an average of 18.7 kg in weight compared with 1.1 kg in the control group over the nine-week period. Twenty-two out of 30 (73%) patients in the diet group were no longer obese at the end of the study, whereas all control patients remained obese.
Five out of 30 (17%) patients in the diet group were also disease-free by the end of the study, and half had only mild disease, whereas all patients in the control group except one still had moderate to severe disease.
Treatment with a low energy diet improves obstructive sleep apnoea in obese men, with the greatest effect in patients with severe disease, conclude the authors. Long term treatment studies are needed to validate weight loss as a primary treatment strategy for obstructive sleep apnoea.
This trial shows that it is possible to help patients with this condition lose weight through lifestyle modification, and that doing this has a good chance of reducing the severity of their disease below the level of harm, say two Australian based researchers in an accompanying editorial. Well designed clinical trials are now needed to convince policy makers, patients, and practising clinicians of the long term usefulness of these tailored approaches, they write.
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One thing that we should consider is not to pressure ourselves to lose weight so that we can get enough rest when we sleep. I think we should consult a specialist when we encounter problems when we sleep every night.
Yes, it’s always important to keep our weight on a normal level according to our own body structure and age. However, more and more people are having difficulties in keeping up with this. No wonder there are many natural weight loss supplements that are currently being promoted all over the Net. I have read a ReloraMax review once and it boasted of natural ways in eliminating excessive fats. But I still think it can work if you do your own thing, too!
This article is very encouraging. I’ve been a snorer for a long time. As I got older, my snoring has gotten more frequent and louder. I also noticed I was tired a lot and liked to take naps during the day. I was overweight. People complained about my snoring and I did not want to sleep in the same room with other people for fear of keeping them awake.
Finally, I asked my doctor about the problem. He sent me home with a machine to check my breathing and pulse while I slept. The results really shocked me! The doc said my airway was closing off up to 70 times each hour, and that I stopped breathing for as long as one full minute at a time! I had severe apnea. He strongly recommended I start using the CPAP machine, since I was risking damage to my heart due to lack of oxygen.
I had read about CPAP machines before and always thought I would never be able to sleep with one, since I am a little claustrophobic. Surprisingly, it only took me a few minutes to get used to, and I was able to start sleeping comfortably right away.
The mask part is just a small nose manifold that covers the nostrils to blow in air. That keeps the throat inflated like a balloon, preventing throat closures and snoring. One problem is the straps over the head that keep the nose piece in place. They can be a little annoying at first, and if you change sleeping positions at night, it is possible for these straps to move, causing the nose piece to slip off.
I have been using a Dreamhelmet (a combination sleep mask sound-muffling pillow) for years now, to sleep at night and for napping during the day. I always find it hard to sleep without the Dreamhelmet, and was afraid I would not be able to use it with the CPAP mask, but I was wrong about that too.
After using the CPAP machine and mask for a short while, I tried wearing the Dreamhelmet over the CPAP mask, covering up the straps – voila, it worked like a charm! I found that the Dreamhelmet actually helps keep the straps in place when I change positions, so now I can sleep all night in comfort, not being bothered by sound, light, or changing positions. The CPAP combined with the Dreamhelmet are the perfect sleeping combo for me. (you can get one only online at http://www.dreamhelmet.com )
Now I don’t snore, I wake up rested, and I have energy that lasts all day long. I’m still overweight, but I don’t feel so run down all the time or feel like I need an afternoon nap, but I still carry an extra Dreamhelmet in the car with me just in case I do need a nap.
I’m now going to try to lose weight by eating only every other day.
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many health complicated with obesity and overweight.
Now, obesity and overweight grow rapidly.
i see the article about what kinds of impact related to overweight and obesity.
As for share, http://www.greenliveforever.com publish some journal and research result related to this matter.
Seem scary for us with overweight and obesity.
So, keep your weight moderately (at least), it’s very important to us.