STORY AT-A-GLANCE
- Sleep apnea is a condition where you repeatedly stop breathing during sleep. Six million Americans have a diagnosis of sleep apnea, but another 25 million or more may be struggling undiagnosed. Sleep apnea is also becoming more prevalent among children
- Snoring is a related problem, caused by a restriction in your airway stemming from either your throat or nasal passageway, and typically precedes more severe sleep apnea by several years
- Lack of breastfeeding, the preponderance of processed food — which has predisposed several generations to a combination of obesity, malformed mouths and unnaturally small airways — and rampant vitamin D deficiency from lack of sun exposure appear to be primary causative factors for the steady rise in sleep apnea
- One of the most frequently used treatments is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which straps around your face and uses mild air pressure to keep your airways open while you sleep. However, CPAP does not address any of the potential underlying causes of sleep apnea
- Better solutions include oral devices that correct your tongue or jaw position, and oral myofunctional therapy, a form of facial muscle therapy that helps reshape your oral cavity and promote proper placement of your tongue, head and neck
Common Causes for Sleep Apnea
The most frequently cited cause for sleep apnea in adults is obesity, which contributes by putting excess pressure on your upper airways, resulting in collapse and decreased neuromuscular control. As explained by Obesity Medicine:12
“Neck circumference, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio are also considerations when addressing overweight or obesity and suspecting sleep apnea. Neck circumference greater than 17 inches for men and 16 inches for women raise the risk of both obesity and sleep apnea.
Waist measurements equal to or greater than 40 inches in men and 35 inches in women also raise the risk factor. Waist-to-hip ratio can also be calculated to assess for additional risk equivalent.
This ratio is determined by dividing the waist measurement by the hip measurement. The greater this ratio, the more significant the risk factors for sleep apnea and other obesity-related disorders …
Weight loss has been found to reduce the severity of sleep apnea as well as the development of the disorder. Overweight and obesity remain the most important modifiable causes of sleep apnea.”
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