Sleep Apnea is not just annoying. It can also cause various conditions such as hypertension, stroke, and depression.
We all know that shedding off excess fats will make your life better, and scientists have discovered a new benefit: improving sleep apnea by reducing fats on the tongue.
According to a recent study at the University of Pennsylvania, having a fat tongue can obstruct your airway, which will lead to snoring, choking and difficulty in breathing. And reducing the fats in your tongue can improve it, said sleep specialist Dr. Richard Schwab, the lead author.
Dr. Schwab's team previously found out that obese people with obstructive sleep apnea have a "considerably bigger tongue" compared to those obese people who do not suffer from the condition.
This new study aimed to know if reducing overall body fat will also shrink the tongue. The conclusion? Yes. And it was supported by another sleep specialist Dr. Raj Dasgupta, who was not involved in the study.
Through MRI imaging, the researchers analyzed the airways of the 67 patients who volunteered to be the subjects of the study. After shedding off 10 percent of their body weight and subsequently reducing the size of their tongue, the researchers found out that their sleep apnea improved by at least 31 percent.
Dr. Schwab, who is also the co-director of the Penn Sleep Center at Penn Medicine, said that the more fats they lose, the more their sleep became better.
But it is not a cure
However, not all patients are obese, said Dr. Dasgupta. He also mentioned that the problem could be on the tonsils, uvula and the soft palate.
Dr. Scwab also said that losing weight is not the only solution. Like Dr. Dasgupta, he also mentioned other factors: the muscles for chewing and the muscle on the airways. Although both of these shrink as the patient sheds some weight, the changes are not as significant compared to the tongue.
He suggested more studies about the fats in the tongue, especially its function since it is still not "fully understood". He also wants the future researchers to study some methods on how to cut fats in this specific area, such as through coolsculpting and special diet and workout regime.
Most doctors ask their patients to undergo continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP therapy. It involves wearing a device that blows mild air pressure on your nose and mouth to keep the airway open.
Unfortunately, the hassle the comes with each, such as the noise of the machine and the side effects like dry mouth and nosebleed, make at least 34 percent of its users skip it.
ALSO READ: CPAP Improves Sleep and Looks in People with Sleep Apnea
The Danger of Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) does not just make sleeping harder or annoy the people you share a room with. It can lead to various conditions such as hypertension, depression, diabetes, and even heart problem and stroke.
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, at least 30 million Americans suffer from OSA. The research also studied its impact on the economy: the cost from lost productivity, accidents and health care can go as high as $150 billion annually.
However, the loss can be slashed by at least $100 billion if every patient will be diagnosed and receive treatment, the study also said.
ALSO READ: Sleep Apnea Associated with Increased Stroke Risk in Women