Everything we do in life is fueled by the foods we eat. Whether we're celebrating a special occasion or we're just having a family meal with friends, food is usually at the core of it all. However, while we may eat more these days than our ancestors, we are not as active as they were. This has produced an imbalance in our lifestyle and can lead to major health problems in our future, especially for those who suffer from sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea and Obesity:
The majority of patients with sleep apnea also suffer from obesity. While statistics does not work the other way around, it pays to understand how difficult it can be for those trying to lose weight with sleep apnea. There has been extensive research that has linked the condition with excessive weight gain, which can trap a person in a vicious cycle that feels like there's no escape. The inability to sleep leads to sleep deprivation, which leads to more pounds, which leads to more disruption of sleep.
The efforts in losing weight with sleep apnea make it feel impossible to have a normal life no matter how you look at it. But there is good news and there are ways to actually break the cycle and get back to a more balanced way of life.
Treatment Options:
For those with sleep apnea, choosing the right weight loss plan for you requires looking at several factors. Those who may experience frequent joint pain or limited mobility often use a program called hydrotherapy; a type of exercise that is performed in water. This makes movement easier despite their weight issues or complications from arthritis. The increased physical activity will also help you to get more restorative sleep in the process without putting additional strain on the body.
Other weight loss options may include joining special support groups geared towards those who may be dealing with sleep apnea who often experience complications that make it more difficult to shed the weight than it would other individuals.
The plan for losing weight with sleep apnea will be the one that addresses your current medical condition. Those with sleep apnea have a much more difficult time with it, mainly due to the fact that they are already not getting enough sleep. Science has proven that those who suffer from any type of sleep deprivation find that their metabolism is dramatically slower. This means it is more difficult to burn off the excess calories and fat you might consume. The result is often even more health challenges: insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and elevated blood pressure.
The Real Challenge:
The real challenge to losing weight with sleep apnea is not the amount of calories you take in, your balanced meals, or your exercise program. The real challenge lies in your ability to get enough quality sleep so your hormones won't be thrown off balance. When your body is well rested, you'll have more energy to perform whatever weight loss activities you may need.
In most cases, once you've been able to lose the weight, your symptoms of sleep apnea could go away. First, you can't sleep, that leads to lower energy, which leads to inability to exercise, which leads to the inability to sleep and you start the process all over again. Think in terms of breaking the cycle to help you to find ways that will force you to get the sleep you need to shed that extra weight.