What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious condition that causes disrupted breathing while you sleep.
When you have sleep apnea, your breathing stops and starts while you sleep, which causes the oxygen in your blood to drop. These changes in your oxygen levels not only put stress on your cardiovascular system, but can also trigger serious health problems like high blood pressure (hypertension), stroke, and heart attack.
There are several different kinds of sleep apnea, but the most common form is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This condition is often caused by being overweight or obese.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea causes a range of symptoms, including:
- Daytime fatigue
- Waking up with a sore or dry throat
- Having a headache upon waking
- Not feeling well rested after a full night’s sleep
- Inability to focus
- Irritability
Most people with obstructive sleep apnea also have loud snoring and experience gasping or choking while sleeping, as well as tossing and turning.
Fortunately, losing as little as 10% of your body weight can significantly reduce your sleep apnea symptoms.
What weight-loss solutions can help with sleep apnea?
Dr. Carlton and his team at LoneStar Bariatrics offer a wide range of solutions to help you reach your weight-loss goals and resolve your sleep apnea symptoms. Because everyone’s needs are unique, they provide both nonsurgical and surgical options and work closely with you to develop a strategy that’s best for you.
If you’re significantly overweight and looking for the most rapid results, a minimally invasive, surgical procedure might be the most effective treatment.
The most common bariatric surgeries include:
- Gastric sleeve: removes three-fourths of your stomach
- Gastric bypass: reduces your stomach size and bypasses the upper portion of your small intestine
- Duodenal switch: combines gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery
In addition to surgical options, Dr. Carlton and his team also offer nutritional counseling with dietitian Allison Rezentes, MS, RD/LD; medical weight-loss management using safe and effective medications like Lomaira™ and Contrave®; and gastric balloons. Gastric balloons from Orbera® and Obalon® are swallowable devices designed to help you eat less while you also have nutritional counseling and behavior modification.
If you’re suffering from sleep apnea and looking for weight-loss solutions, call LoneStar Bariatrics or schedule an appointment online today.
