A recent study explains that, in the case of obese people with sleep apnea, losing weight can reduce symptoms. This would be possible in particular thanks to the thinning of the tongue!
In obese people, the whole body suffers from this condition. A study from the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine published on January 10, 2019 focused on language. According to a team from the University of Pennsylvania (USA), led by Dr. Richard J Schwab, the loss of fat mass in the tongue in obese people can reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea.
Recall that sleep apnea or obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAS) is related to a cessation of respiratory flow (apnea) or a decrease in this same flow (hypopnea) during sleep. This is a relaxation of the muscles of the walls of the pharynx where it is difficult for air to pass, causing vibrations that cause snoring.
The publication recalls the first work carried out by the team of Dr. Richard J. Schwab in 2014. It was admitted that obese patients with sleep apnea had larger languages than the others. In addition, the body fat percentage was also higher. Thus, the hypothesis of a reduction in the fatty mass of the tongue could allow a decrease in symptoms sleep apnea.
Newly published study reports new work involving 67 obese patients with sleep apnea. However, the latter were the subject of a sleep study and two MRIs (abdominal and pharynx). Then, the patients lost an average of 10% of their total weight in six months via diet or bariatric surgery.
According to the study leaders, weight loss in the tongue was the most beneficial. This is simply the primary link between weight loss and sleep apnea improvement. To a lesser degree, weight loss in the pterygoid muscles (mastication) and the pharyngeal lateral wall also had positive effects. Finally, the researchers indicate that de possible treatments regarding tongue fat will emerge in the near future.
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