Why does obesity increase the risk of sleep apnea?

Obesity is a significant risk factor for sleep apnea due to several reasons. When a person is obese, they often have extra tissue around their neck and throat. This extra tissue can press on the airways, especially when lying down, which makes it harder to breathe during sleep.

How Obesity Affects Breathing:

1. Neck and Throat Pressure: Extra fat around the neck can squeeze the airway, making it narrow. This can lead to breathing problems while sleeping.
2. Abdominal Fat: Obesity also means more fat around the belly. This can push up on the diaphragm, reducing lung capacity and making breathing harder.
3. Airway Resistance: Obese people tend to have higher resistance in their air passages, which can make it more difficult for air to move in and out of the lungs.

These factors can cause the airway to collapse during sleep, leading to pauses in breathing, known as apnea episodes. Understanding these risks can help in managing obesity to reduce the chances of developing sleep apnea.