Sleep apnea is known to correlate with hyperleptinemia, or the hypersecretion of leptin in the body. Leptin is an adipose tissue hormone, and in normal amounts, leptin release can be shown to reduce body fat when released in regular doses following your circadian rhythm. Because of constant disruptions in the circadian rhythm in sleep apneic patients, leptin is secreted at increased levels.

In prolonged doses, leptin has been shown to become ineffective. Because the function of leptin is to reduce body fat, a malfunction in effectiveness would create an increased amount of body fat in sleep apneic patients. If untreated, sleep apnea can advance weight gain and lead to obesity in patients.

Being obese means that you way more that 20% over what is considered a normal weight for your height. Obesity comes with a plethora of symptoms and risks. These include:

  • Heart disease
  • Stroke
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Type 2 Diabetes
  • Clogged arteries
  • Gallbladder disease and gallstones
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Gout
  • Asthma
  • Sleeping problems

Sleep apnea and Obesity are very intertwined, as each one separately can cause the other to occur. Reasons for developing sleep apnea often include obesity and increased neck size.

By: Jennifer LaBombard