Commonly mispelled as sleep apnia, obstructive sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder which involves breathing poblems. Breathing stops as the person is sleeping and has to wake up to catch a breath. There are different levels of sleep apnea. In mild cases the person has to wake up 5 to 15 times per hours of sleeping. In cases of medium difficulty 15-30 times per hours of sleep and in difficult cases over 30 times per hours. Cases with over 60 times per hour have been registered. That meas waking up once in a minute!

The symptoms of sleep apnea are usually unusual tiredness even if you have been to bed for long hours, loss of concentration, mood wings and morning headaches. Lifestyleinterventions usually help wiith the disorder.

Sleep apnea usually is relieved during a long time but a mild disorder without proper care might become a serious issue in a few years. Untreated sleep apnea doubles the need for other health care. In the US sleep apnea costs 3,4 billion dollars a year and it is increases the risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular problems. It has also been shown to icrease traffic accidents.

Approximately 70% of all people suffering from sleep apnea are obese. Even a slight increase in ones bodymass migh be a significant risk factor for sleep apnea.The increase in the number of overweight people especially in the US has increased the sleep apnea numbers a lot and the numbers in the other diseases involved. It has been speculated that obesity might be linked to sleep apnea, but it is almost clear that sleep apnea is linked to obesity. There has also been speculation that one of the melatonin side effects is snoring.

Incresed neck circumference makes it harder to breathe as the airways collapse due to the increased weight around them as the supporting muscles relax when we fall asleep. Usually this is caused by overweight or genetical reasons. Also the airways might be genetically narrow. Obesity increases also the weight of the chest which makes it hader to breath because the breathing muscles have a limited strength capacity.

Recent studies have shown that almost 70% of people suffering from sleep apnea get help by reducing their weight. Actually almost everyone who loses 11% of their current weight will experience serious decrease in the symptoms. The amount of the breathing stops are reduced even with less weight loss. Changes in eating habits have proven out to be a very significant treatment for sleep apnea, and one suffering from this disorder shouild consult a nutritionist!