What is sleep apnoea?
Sleep apnoea involves repeated pauses in breathing or periods of reduced breathing during sleep. The most common form is obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), which occurs when the upper airways temporarily collapse and obstruct airflow.
When breathing stops or decreases, the oxygen level in the blood falls. The body then responds by briefly waking the brain so that breathing starts again. These awakenings are often so brief that the person does not notice them, but they can occur many times each night and disrupt sleep quality.
Common symptoms include loud snoring, pauses in breathing during the night, daytime tiredness, morning headaches and reduced ability to concentrate. The severity of symptoms varies between individuals.
Risk factors for sleep apnoea
Sleep apnoea can affect people of all ages, but the risk is influenced by several factors. The most important risk factor is overweight and obesity.
Anatomical features of the upper airways can also contribute to sleep apnoea. Examples include enlarged tonsils, a small or receding lower jaw, a large tongue or other structures that reduce the space in the throat. Nasal congestion at night due to conditions such as allergic rhinitis or nasal polyps can also restrict airflow and worsen symptoms.
The risk of sleep apnoea also increases with age. Among women, it becomes more common after the menopause. Lifestyle habits and sleep patterns can also affect the risk. Alcohol, sedative medicines and certain painkillers can cause the muscles in the throat to relax more during the night, increasing the risk of pauses in breathing. For many people, sleep apnoea also becomes worse when sleeping on their back, as the tongue and soft tissues in the throat can then fall backwards more easily and block the airways.
How do you know if you have sleep apnoea?
Sleep apnoea can be difficult to detect yourself because the pauses in breathing occur during sleep. Common signs include loud snoring, repeated pauses in breathing observed by a partner, and pronounced daytime tiredness or sleepiness. However, sleep apnoea can also occur without pronounced snoring.
Because the awakenings during the night are often very brief, it is common for the person not to notice that their sleep is being disrupted. Even if you spend many hours in bed, your sleep quality may be reduced.
Common symptoms of sleep apnoea include:
- Tiredness or sleepiness during the day
- Difficulty concentrating and memory problems
- Morning headaches
- Dry mouth on waking
- Night sweats
- Frequent trips to the toilet during the night
If sleep apnoea is suspected, the diagnosis can be made with the help of overnight respiratory monitoring. Untreated sleep apnoea is linked to an increased risk of conditions including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, making it important to investigate the symptoms.
Weight loss can improve sleep apnoea
For people with overweight or obesity, weight loss is an important part of the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea. When body weight decreases, the pressure on the upper airways often decreases, which can make it easier to keep the airways open during sleep.
Studies show that weight loss can reduce the number of pauses in breathing and improve sleep quality. For some people, modern weight-loss medicines, such as semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro), can be a complement to lifestyle changes to help achieve significant and sustainable weight loss. Weight loss can also help reduce other risk factors that often occur alongside sleep apnoea, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
At the same time, other treatment may be needed, particularly for moderate or severe sleep apnoea. Common treatment options include CPAP therapy, a dental appliance or other measures that help keep the airways open during the night. Which treatment is appropriate depends on the severity of the sleep apnoea and the individual's circumstances.
If you suspect that you have sleep apnoea, it is important to seek medical care. The assessment often begins with questions about sleep, snoring and daytime tiredness, followed by an overnight sleep study in which breathing, oxygen levels and other sleep-related parameters are measured.
How does poor sleep affect weight?
Sleep is an important part of the body's regulation of hunger, fullness and energy metabolism. When sleep is repeatedly disrupted, for example by sleep apnoea, several hormonal and metabolic processes are affected, which can make it more difficult to lose weight and maintain a lower weight over time.
Insufficient or fragmented sleep can increase hunger signals while reducing the body's fullness signals. Many people therefore experience an increased appetite, greater cravings for energy-dense foods and more difficulty following their health goals. Tiredness can also make it more difficult to be physically active and to make conscious decisions about diet and lifestyle habits.
Untreated sleep apnoea is also linked to insulin resistance and other metabolic changes that can affect the body's weight regulation. The condition is also associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke.
Treating sleep apnoea can therefore not only improve sleep quality and reduce daytime tiredness, but also create better conditions for weight loss, improved metabolic health and reduced strain on the heart and blood vessels.
For people with overweight or obesity, a vicious cycle often develops in which overweight increases the risk of sleep apnoea, while sleep apnoea can make weight loss more difficult. Treating both conditions at the same time can make it easier to achieve long-term health benefits.
When can medical weight loss be considered for sleep apnoea?
For people with overweight or obesity and sleep apnoea, medical weight loss can be a treatment option. Because overweight is an important risk factor for sleep apnoea, weight loss can help reduce the number of pauses in breathing, improve sleep quality and reduce the risk of other health problems.
Weight-loss medicines may be appropriate for people who meet the criteria for treatment of overweight or obesity, particularly if sleep apnoea or other weight-related diseases are also present. Whether treatment is appropriate is determined through an individual medical assessment that takes into account weight, health and any associated conditions.
Frequently asked questions about sleep apnoea and overweight
Can sleep apnoea go away if I lose weight?
Weight loss can reduce the severity of sleep apnoea and, in some cases, lead to the pauses in breathing decreasing significantly or disappearing. The extent of the improvement varies between individuals and depends, among other things, on how much overweight contributes to the symptoms.
Weight loss is therefore an important part of the treatment of sleep apnoea, but some people may also need other treatment, such as CPAP or a dental appliance.
Who can receive weight-loss medicines?
In Sweden, treatment with medicines for overweight and obesity may be appropriate for people with a BMI ≥30 kg/m² or a BMI ≥27 kg/m² if weight-related diseases, such as sleep apnoea, type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, are also present. Which treatment is appropriate is determined through an individual medical assessment.
Is sleep apnoea dangerous if it is not treated?
Untreated sleep apnoea can affect both quality of life and health. The condition is linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and pronounced daytime tiredness, among other problems.
Many people also experience difficulty concentrating, memory problems and reduced energy. It is therefore important to seek medical care if you suspect that you have sleep apnoea.
Can sleep apnoea affect my blood pressure and other diseases?
Yes. With sleep apnoea, the oxygen level in the blood repeatedly falls during the night, activating the body's stress system and increasing the release of stress hormones. Over time, this can contribute to an increase in blood pressure.
Untreated sleep apnoea is linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke. Treating sleep apnoea can therefore not only improve sleep quality, but also have positive effects on cardiovascular health.
Can I have sleep apnoea without knowing it?
Yes. Many people with sleep apnoea are unaware of their pauses in breathing because they occur during sleep. It is often a partner or family member who first notices loud snoring or that breathing stops during the night.
Daytime tiredness, morning headaches, difficulty concentrating and reduced energy can also be signs that sleep is being disrupted by sleep apnoea.
.svg)