Healthy Viewpoint

Most people realise there are health risks that go hand in hand with being overweight or obese. But the link between weight and sleep may not be so obvious. Sleep disorder experts from Scotland, however, say the problem of obesity-related sleep problems is rising – and fast.

In just the past three years there has been a 25 percent increase in the number of people being referred to hospital for sleep problems in Scotland, with around 80 percent of those affected said to be overweight.

One of the experts – Dr Tom Mackay, from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh – is reported as saying he's facing a 'tidal wave' of cases, many of whom are being diagnosed with a condition called obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).

And while there are no such figures available for the rest of the UK, the experts suggest a similar picture is likely to be seen in England, Wales and Northern Ireland too. 

The British Lung Foundation describes OSA as a 'dangerous' sleep disorder. Why? Because OSA is caused when your airflow is completely blocked as you sleep, which stops you breathing and makes you wake up throughout the night. Not surprisingly, if you suffer from OSA, you may get up in the morning feeling as if you've hardly slept at all. And if you're constantly tired during the day, you're more prone to having accidents – which is not a good thing if you drive, for instance, or operate machinery at work.

OSA sufferers also have a higher risk of health problems such as high blood pressure, which means your risk of having a heart attack or stroke is higher too. 

Being overweight or obese can cause OSA because the excess weight around your neck puts pressure on your airways. Men with a collar size of more than 44cm (17.5cm), for instance, are more likely to suffer from OSA than men with a smaller neck circumference. Others who have a higher risk of OSA include post-menopausal women (who are not taking HRT), middle-aged men, and people with a small airway, small lower jaw, large tonsils or a large tongue.

If you belong to one of these categories and you snore when you're asleep (plus you have breathing problems while sleeping and often feel sleepy during the day), see your GP for a diagnosis or ask your pharmacist for advice. 

If you have moderate or severe OSA you may need to wear a special mask while you sleep, which helps to keep your airway open. And if you're overweight, losing a few pounds should help too.

Still not sure? Take the British Lung Foundation's online Obstructive Sleep Apnoea test now.

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