Can Obesity Cause Sleep Disorders: Body Mass and Total Wellness
Tijuana Bariatrics treats many patients from across the border. This state-of-the-art weight loss surgery practice is a leader in Mexico. We offer all of the most advanced and effective weight loss procedures available, including gastric sleeve surgery, which shrinks the size of the stomach and reduces appetite.
People undergo bariatric surgery to address more than just their overall weight. Bariatric surgery can also be performed to treat health problems associated with obesity, such as sleep disorders. Let's go over this matter in more detail right now.
Obesity Affect More Than Just Your Body Mass
As a condition, obesity has many more effects on your wellness beyond just your body mass. It has also been linked to a number of health conditions, either causing them directly or making them worse as a result of increased body mass.
There are three sleep disorders that are most commonly linked to an increased body mass: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), insomnia, and restless leg syndrome. Let's consider each of them in a bit more detail.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Obstructive sleep apnea is often associated with snoring, but the condition involves more than just a loud snore. Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person's breathing during sleep is interrupted frequently. Each interruption in sleep is known as an apnea, and it can last a few seconds to a few minutes, occurring multiple times during the night. This can lead to fatigue, headaches, and other issues during the day while awake.
As a person experiences higher body mass, the more likely he or she is to suffer from sleep apnea. In some cases the obstructive sleep apnea is so severe that even sleeping on your side will not necessarily alleviate the condition.
Insomnia
It's unclear if insomnia can cause obesity or if obesity contributes to insomnia (or both), yet there is a link between insomnia and obesity. Studies have found that people who get six hours of sleep or less have a 33 percent chance of suffering from obesity, while people who get around seven or eight hours of sleep a night have a 22 percent chance of obesity.
Restless Leg Syndrome
Roughly 12 million Americans suffer from restless leg syndrome, a condition that results in itching, pulling, gnawing, and other strange sensations in the limbs during rest. This makes a restful, full night's sleep very difficult to achieve. Studies have found that people who had a high body mass (in the obese and morbid obesity range) are 40 percent more likely to suffer from restless leg syndrome.
How effective is bariatric surgery at treating these issues?
Bariatric surgery is an excellent option for losing weight safely and effectively. People who undergo weight loss surgery procedures of different kinds will be able to lose weight and achieve excellent health and wellness. In general, sleep disorders and other health problems are less common or less severe following bariatric surgery.
Learn More About Your Weight Loss Surgery Options
For more information about how weight loss surgery can improve your overall health and wellness, be sure to contact our bariatric surgery center today. The entire weight loss team at the practice will help you lose weight and get a full night of restful sleep.
