Weight Gain Associated with Sleep Apnea

June 15, 2009 - PRLog -- According to a research abstract that will be presented at Sleep 2009 link exists between the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and weight gain. Find out more about the Dangers of Sleep Apnea at: http://www.ihatecpap.com/sleep_apnea_dangers.html

According to lead author Mark Brown, MD, Department of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson, people suffering from more severe OSA may be more likely to gain more weight than those with less severe OSA over time.

"OSA is a disorder characterized by decreases or cessation of breathing during sleep. Obesity is a known risk factor for the disorder; however, it is hypothesized that the effects of OSA itself may predispose patients to weight gain," said Brown.

Sleep apnea is a serious illness most often characterized by snoring, gasping for breath and excessive daytime sleepiness.  It is implicated in many disorders including high blood pressure, changes in insulin resistance and a six fold increase in heart attacks and strokes.  CPAP is the Gold Standard of treatment for sleep apnea and is very effective.  Patients with moderate apnea who have untreated sleep apnea have a 36% decrease in 8 year survival compared to treated patients according to studies in the journal SLEEP.

The problem is that only "23-45% of patients prescribed CPAP actually use it regularly while the majority of obstructive sleep apnea patients do not" and this places these patients at greater risk for heart attacks and strokes.  Studies have shown that patients with untreated sleep apnea are at greater risk of heart attacks and strokes when sleeping than when exercising.

Medical studies have shown that even patients who use their CPAP average only 4-5 hours a night not the recommended 7 1/2 - 8 hours.  Recent studies have shown that patients who tolerate CPAP well from the beginning of treatment tend to continue treatment and patients who HATE CPAP or do not tolerate it at the start of treatment rarely embrace CPAP use.

To educate the public about dental sleep medicine and alternatives treatment procedures, http:// www.IHateCPAP.com - connects obstructive sleep apnea patients nationwide with local sleep apnea dentists.  You can find an I Hate CPAP dental sleep medicine doctor in Cincinnati and Columbus Ohio, Boston, Seattle, San Diego, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Omaha, West Lafayette Indiana, Charlotte NC, Phoenix, Orange County, Mountain View CA, Monterey Bay, Irvine California, Northern Virginia, Central and North New Jersey, New York City, Houston, Palm Beach, Sarasota and Jacksonville Florida, West Salem Wisconsin, with new locations opening weekly.

# # #

Information on sleep apnea, sleep apnea treatment and cpap alternatives are available at www.ihatecpap.com This is the premiere site for the promotion of Dental Sleep Medicine and Sleep Apnea Dentists.