How Does Sleep Apnea Affect Your Eating Habits?
Due to lack of sleep, you tend to be fatigued or tired and this leads to wrong, unhealthy food choices. A few of the habits poor sleep cause are snacking when you feel sleepy during the day, choose high calorie comfort food, and eating right before you get to bed.
In a hectic world full of responsibilities, it is hard to take your mind off work, family and chores. In such stressful times, we tend to be sleep-deprived too (obstructive sleep apnea in extreme cases). If you are suffering from chronic snoring or OSA, you not only end up disrupting sleep of your bed partner. OSA causes decreases in the amount REM sleep (the deep, restful stage of sleep). Sometimes patients never reach the REM sleep stage - You may be asleep, but the brain and body is not getting the rest it so desperately needs.
Why OSA Affects Your Weight
Research has revealed that if you don't get enough sleep (due to chronic snoring and related conditions), the level of the "leptin" hormone in your body decreases. Due to this, you don't feel satisfied after a meal. Also lack of sleep results in a surge of the "ghrelin" hormone which stimulates your appetite.
Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by decrease or cessation of breathing while you sleep. It is widely accepted that obesity is a known risk factor and obese people are more likely to develop obstructive apnea. However, it is now believed that the effects of the sleep disorder may predispose patients to gain weight too.
There are significant health consequences associated with sleep disorders and related conditions. However, you can rely on a physician to determine if you have and it is responsible for your weight gain.
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
The Pillar Procedure is a minimally-invasive Obstructive Sleep Apnea treatment that can be done in one office visit. The obstructed airflow is corrected by inserting small, flexible polyester along the back of the palate, and had proven very effective in treating chronic snoring and sleep apnea.
For more information on the Pillar Procedure and other sleep apnea treatments, please visit AtlantaSnoring.com.
Stefano Grossi Atlanta Snoring Institute 770-389-0000