Waist Size May Not Always Be An Indicator of Heart Disease

It has been a running idea that overweight individuals often suffer from bad cardiovascular health and may be more prone to diabetes, stroke, heart disease, hypertension, and other cardiovascular health problems. While it seems to make plenty of sense, a recent study has shown that obesity does not add true, measurable predisposition when predicting how much risk a patient is at risk for cardiovascular health problems. The study, which took 220,000 patients from 17 different countries into account, concluded that there is no proven correlation between being overweight and developing heart disease. Though this study may make some believe that being overweight has no negative heath effects, it’s important that patients understand that obesity does put patients at increased risk of other health conditions which can, in-turn stress their hearts. One such condition is obstructive sleep apnea.

Being overweight also does not 100% predispose any patient to suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Many patients who suffer from OSA are overweight, but obstructive sleep apnea is not a condition that is exclusive to the overweight or obese. Individuals who are otherwise perfectly healthy can suffer from sleep apnea. However, overweight patients are at a higher risk because excess fat deposits within the neck and throat area can collapse and can cause airway obstruction.

While a direct link between obesity and heart problems may be debatable, patients should remember that obesity can and does play a role in how healthy one’s body is overall. Whether you’re healthy, overweight, have a normal BMI or an above average BMI, anyone can develop sleep apnea. If you have any of the problems commonly associated with snoring and sleep apnea, it’s important to get tested. Working with a certified sleep physician’s diagnosis, Dr. Roubal will be able to provide safe, effective sleep apnea treatment. Contact us today for all the sleep apnea information and help you need.