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Sleep Apnea Research Paper

Decent Essays

Sleep apnea is a serious health epidemic that is linked to another problem currently gripping the nation: the rising rate of obesity. Obesity and sleep apnea are so tightly connected that it is hard to discuss one without the other. Understanding the connections between obesity and sleep apnea can help you create a path towards treating both of these dangerous problems.

Why Obesity Contributes to Sleep Apnea

As people gain weight, fat is spread throughout their body in a variety of places. While most people have a central fat storage area (such as the stomach, legs, hips, or buttocks), fat is still stored in multiple areas. One of these locations is the throat.

That extra fat around the throat muscles is problematic because it narrows the …show more content…

They causes include:

Gender: diagnoses for men are nearly double that of women. Age: people over the age of 65 have an increased risk of sleep apnea. Heart issues: problems like congestive heart failure and fibrillation issues can contribute to sleep apnea. Nasal congestion: colds and allergies often create an excessive level of mucus which can block air passage and increase sleep apnea symptoms. Thick necks: people with naturally thick often develop sleep apnea symptoms, even if they aren't overweight. Smokers: habitual smokers experience throat inflammation and fluid retention that can exasperate existing sleep apnea symptoms.

The Startling Statistics

The statistics surrounding obesity and sleep apnea tell a very scary tale. According to SleepFoundation.Org, 65% of all Americans are either overweight or obese. Dr. Richard Simon, a sleep specialist in Walla Walla, has even linked this epidemic to a lack of sleep, stating that a decrease in exercise, an increase in caloric intake, and a major decline in sleep has thrown the body's natural rhythms out of

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