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Would only guess that weight...aggravates....the OSA, but these posts clearly show its not the 'cause'. For myself, I have a long family history, father has been on CPAP for 15 yrs, and my siblings were diagnosed in their late 20's. I myself, lived in denial (just considered myself a champion snorer), until I began with hypertension, memory issues, chronic sleepiness and such. I'm physically active, vegetarian, and a healthy weight. Perhaps the clinicians need to really take a deeper look into the genetic history as well.

Speaking for myself - me is overweight at 6Ft Tall 88 Kg (194 lbs) - waist is too big at 106 cm (42 Inches). It really should be under 100 Cm (40 Inches).

Want to get down to 80 Kg (176 lbs) but it is a hard yard. Haven't been that low in weight for perhaps 15 years

When CPAP doesn't seem to be working my weight is likely to go up.
2 Years ago it got to 105 Kg (232 lbs). In 2006/7 managed to whittle that back to 83 Kg (183 lbs) - but it is difficult to stay below 85 Kg.

Is it all attributable to good/bad CPAP, I'm not really all that sure any more. Am thinking a lot has to do with aging and also the intention not to give up a glass or 2 of wine eeach dinner.

DSM

Sorry for dragging up such an old post but I ran across it doing some searches. I'm 24 and recently diagnosed with sleep apnea although I know I've had it for a few years at least. I have never been overweight and struggle a bit to gain any weight yet have had sleep apnea the whole time. It can effect anyone. I've been told by people that regular exercise, avoiding alcohol and all that will prevent apnea events but I'd rather use my cpap then spend my entire waking hours trying to ensure I don't need it. Even being skinny I could still use exercise but being tired all day makes that a difficult thing to achieve. I wish I would have started earlier it makes me wonder how much more I could have gotten done.

Well, you can make yourself crazy wondering 'what if', but consider some here (including myself) who are decades older and only got diagnosed relatively recently - at least you're getting a good start and know what the problem is. You may have other anatomic features (smaller jaw with overbite) that signal possible apnea, weight is only one, though it's still amazing how ignorant some doctors even are about that! Anytime you have questions, please come back here and we'll try to help.

Guest wrote: regular exercise, avoiding alcohol and all that will prevent apnea events

Baloney served to you by the ignorant.

Guest wrote:Sorry for dragging up such an old post but I ran across it doing some searches. I'm 24 and recently diagnosed with sleep apnea although I know I've had it for a few years at least. I have never been overweight and struggle a bit to gain any weight yet have had sleep apnea the whole time. It can effect anyone. I've been told by people that regular exercise, avoiding alcohol and all that will prevent apnea events but I'd rather use my cpap then spend my entire waking hours trying to ensure I don't need it. Even being skinny I could still use exercise but being tired all day makes that a difficult thing to achieve. I wish I would have started earlier it makes me wonder how much more I could have gotten done.

The people to blame are your ancestors who decided to be farmers 10,000 years ago. No amount of exercise or alcohol will change the shape of your jaw and throat. Probably about 50% of people who are over weight were skinny when their OSA kicked in. Lack of sleep causes many people to over eat.

BlackSpinner wrote:The people to blame are your ancestors who decided to be farmers 10,000 years ago. No amount of exercise or alcohol will change the shape of your jaw and throat. Probably about 50% of people who are over weight were skinny when their OSA kicked in. Lack of sleep causes many people to over eat.

I blame it on our ancestors who foolishly decided to start walking on two limbs instead of 4 like God intended. Humans have that right angle bend in our airway that 4 footed mammals don't have.

archangle wrote:Humans have that right angle bend in our airway that 4 footed mammals don't have.

Evolved without sleep apnea



Evolved with sleep apnea

I've often wondered if sleeping with your head tipped way back would reduce sleep apnea. I know you tilt the head back when giving CPR. Maybe we should try sleeping in the dog#1 on the stomach position.

Of course, even with our head tipped back, our airway is still different from that of 4 legged mammals.

I would consider myself average weight, 5'9", 175 lbs, which is slightly over the ideal BMI. In 2002, I weighed 10 lbs less and was diagnosed with mild SA, last December, at my current weight, I was diagnosed with moderate SA. Can 10 lbs make that much of a difference? I don't know of anyone in my family with SA except one thin cousin. I had one aunt (now deceased) who was obese but everyone else in my family is average weight.

I didn't take to CPAP in 2002 but I am now after my moderate SA diagnosis.

debstieb wrote:I was an extremely thin kid, but was always sick with upper respiratory/ear infections. I had to have tonsils out and tubes in my ears at age 5.

Deb

Wow, that's interesting. I was a thin kid too (and still fairly thin at age 54 now). I didn't have the upper respiratory infections as a kid but I did have my tonsils out when I was 5 and had constant ear problems, including a tube in one ear at age 10. I've had 50 percent hearing loss in my right ear since I can remember. My sleep doctor did not inquire about that and I didn't volunteer that information. Curious.

It's unfortunate that most people, even CPAPers, fail to know that underdeveloped jaws are the root cause of most cases of OSA. An underdeveloped jaw means a narrow airway which easily collapses when sleeping.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 144653.htm

Now that is not to say that someone with a well developed jaw could not become so obese that the airway is compromised.

Sheffey wrote:It's unfortunate that most people, even CPAPers, fail to know that underdeveloped jaws are the root cause of most cases of OSA. An underdeveloped jaw means a narrow airway which easily collapses when sleeping.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 144653.htm

Now that is not to say that someone with a well developed jaw could not become so obese that the airway is compromised.

Makes sense. I also grind my teeth (7 out of 8 back molars are crowned). Does having a strong gag reflex play a part in all of this? I'm usually in tears by the end of my annual dental x-rays. I don't think I ever got a straight answer from my dentist when I asked him.

novatom wrote:Does having a strong gag reflex play a part in all of this?

I don't know about that. But let me say anecdotally, despite a narrow airway and crowded teeth, my gag reflex is minimal.

novatom wrote:grind my teeth

It is common for people with untreated sleep apnea to grind their teeth during the body's struggle to overcome an obstructive apnea. Think about trying to move a heavy object, some people will clench or grind their teeth while exerting heavy force. It's reflexive.

Then there is the adrenaline effect. When you are struggling with apneas, your body dumps excess "flight or fight" hormones into your blood stream. Repeated instances often cause anxiety which can lead to teeth grinding 24 hours per day.

I developed a habit of teeth grinding during my untreated apnea years. The habit, although not nearly as severe, is still there with very effective CPAP treatment. Maybe it is an ingrained habit that is hard to eliminate?