Will losing weight cure my snoring? The answer may surprise you

[@karend.9218]

I got diagnosed with osa 4 years ago at 52 yo, female, 154 lbs. I put off getting a cpap for lots of reasons but when I tried it the first night, I dreamed in colour. I could not recall the last time I remembered dreaming. Inside 4 nights, the permanent jet lag was resolving. My brain fog started lifting. The next battle was carb addiction which was fed by the tiredness. Now 15 pounds lighter, I feel 20 years younger, memory so improved from better sleep. I have 0 to 2 apnea’s per night. But if I forget to cpap, I snore myself awake, so it’s not cured but sleep quality is radically better. Last year I got a tonsil revision. No more putting off health. Help yourself, you are worth it.

[@chrisucl]

Excellent comment

[@johnpauledwards6234]

Did the tonsil revision help also? Was that a total removal or I suppose just a bit taken off? Im battleing all these items but yes CPAP treatment helps you get rolling. Would be amazing to defeat the issue totally.

[@karend.9218]

@@johnpauledwards6234 , it helped a lot of ways, sometimes I would cough eating because the one tonsil was so large and food would get tangled up. Sounds awful. As for the apnea, I don’t think it made a big difference but I felt an improvement with swallowing that was a huge relief. The ENT used radio waves and shrunk it, kind of burned it to shrivel it. It was sore, but fine with Tylenol. I should have done it years ago but every time I mentioned it to my primary physician, he just said, “you don’t want your tonsils out, they don’t do that anymore.”. Changed doctors and she referred me and he explained new procedure, booked, done, not the most pleasant procedure but not horrible, no regrets. Hope that helps.

[@karend.9218]

Just want to mention also that alcohol, even a glass of wine with dinner, disturbs sleep when you reach an age (50? For me). Also, food sensitivities make snoring worse. If any food gives you a stuffy nose, then research histamine intolerance and eliminate a few things. It really helps with the quality of sleep.

[@LaughinLoneStar]

Wow, congratulations. What was your AHI number upon diagnosis? I'm assuming it was very high.

[@Who_deanyy]

Brilliant video I’ve been going to sleep hospitals for my sleep APNEA for the last 2 years & you’ve managed to give me more information than any appointments I’ve had in your 12 min video. This doctor deserves every blessing coming his way.

[@androidery1999]

Same.

[@RabbitHoleDiaries]

I was scrolling down to post "Brilliant video" as my comment and literally your comment was the top comment.

[@LaughinLoneStar]

All of my patients with sleep apnea have various BMIs tells us NOTHING about the relationship between BMI and sleep apnea in the general population. This is only for those that have the problem. For those whose AHI is directly proportional to their BFP (NOT BMI), this tells them to just give it up and try to use a CPAP. In the US almost no one can go to a clinic like yours because our insurance won't pay for it.

[@nuritate7846]

agree

[@sorenutpal6091]

Yes

[@HassanIngram]

valid points.... i recently got sleep apnea and my doctor said straight up lose weight... but without changing anything in my life but having a cpap machine i have already lost weight! ???? good to hear your points of view.

[@annabozyk9888]

I have carried a lot of shame from believing my Sleep Apnea is all my fault for being overweight.

[@hamhockjenkins]

Why shame? No reason.

[@naxp42]

Same! This video has been so helpful. 😭

[@lillekagehus392]

Thank you, thank you. I started treatment for severe sleep apnea in May. Initially didn't lose any weight, started a new diet a month ago and I am already 19lbs down. It's been so much easier to stick to. I feel so much better already. Really appreciate how kind you are (my ENT doctor was kind, GP not so much).

[@andrearoberts1873]

Thank you so much, "cruel" is how it felt when an electro-physician virtually shouted at me when I was in E.D. with atrial fibrillation that if I lost weight I'd be cured of sleep apnoa and A/F. I was in bed with one of those silly gowns on, an overweight 70 year old, feeling physically weak, he was a figure of authority in that hospital, wearing a suit, flanked by 3 junior doctors. The truth is my diet was almost certainly healthier than his own.

[@Bdog4114]

I just found out today I have it bad. This video is great. I've been working out 4 times a week, watching my diet and I cut alcohol out and still wasn't helping. Confirming that I had sleep anena and watching this video, it make so much sense why I struggled with weight for the last 5 years like I had. Also other things like my anxiety, mental health and just always feeling tired. It all makes so much more sense now. Thank you for this educational video

[@camkret4113]

I've struggled with weight due to sleep apnea and I started ozempic 2 weeks ago. I've lost 3.4kg in that time plus my sleep has already improved, as has stress levels pwr my fitbit. I have been unable to use cpap but I plan to redo my sleep study when i get to 90kg - currently 103kg.

[@dianesullivan9126]

Are you on a cpap machine?

[@ruhulchoudory2178]

Hi Dr Vik I was watching this video 9 months ago when I was going through my sleep study. My AHI was 95. Since the CPAP machine and 9 months later, I’ve lost 15kg, losing more as days go and feel like I have so much energy. Thank you for this video

[@sorenutpal6091]

Great

[@violetgeorge9873]

Thank you so much for this clarification. You cannot imagine what this has done for me. I finally feel hopeful again.

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

You got this!

[@spekovic1]

@@VikVeerENTSurgeon I just stumbled on the video 🙏🙏I was looking for some kind of watch where it will show sleep apnea and blood pressure and I’m so happy that I got to this video. You are amazing. You explained more than my doctors did all these years. My blood pressure gets high overnight and in the morning daytime is very low I get extremely tired it gets 59 dr tell me it’s normal 😢I have high protein 745in urine. They want to give me more medicine for blood pressure to lower protein in urine I refuse to take another pill for blood pressure which I already take one 5 ml Amlodipine i tried switching to losartan and it does not control my blood pressure, They tell me I need to take blood pressure to cure my protein i started crying thay never thought of checking my sleep apnea. I wanted to see if that’s what I have since I’m extremely tired and suggestion on the protein cure. ???

[@execbum1]

I've been ill since I was young and first saw a doctor about it when I was 17. In addition to lots of other symptoms, I've had persistent weight gain and complete inability to lose weight for years, with every doctor telling me it was my own fault and that I needed to eat less. I've been dieting and fasting since I was 14, but to no avail. On Thursday I found out that I had severe OSA with an AHI of nearly 50. I'm going to be 40 this year, so I've had 23 years of doctors telling me it was my fault that I wasn't losing weight. It's so refreshing to hear that treatment might help me finally shed my excess weight!

[@OldSchoolDanceFitness]

This is so incredibly helpful. I’m sending your videos to my patients dealing with sleep issues, weight challenges and mental health, which are clearly all connected. More information on how lack of sleep interfaces with bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety would be helpful.

[@TheFleetflyer]

I've gone from a BMI of 25 to a BMI of 27/8 since my sleep apnea has developed. I know I would still have sleep apnea if I lost weight, but I also know it would not go away, or even be low enough to not need surgery if I did, i.e. the improvement would be marginal. All the medics I've seen bar Mr Veer have made out that losing weight is a silver bullet, with seemingly no appreciation of how chronic sleep deprivation affects one's ability to eat and drink sensibly, and exercise. How many people out there can really go with zero deep sleep for years and then muster the motivation to stick with an effective diet and exercise regime when they can barely cope with the fragments of a life they currently have? Curing them and letting them recover from the unbelievable stress the condition in its more severe form causes will give them so much motivation that they'll feel they can achieve anything. I certainly find that on the very rare occasions that I have a good night, I'm no longer craving fatty foods and a dark corner to hide in, rather I'm a normal human able to make good, healthy decisions without them feeling like a titanic struggle. Anyway, great rant, please keep spreading the gospel!

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

So glad my ranting didn't annoy people, I do love my job! Sorry that you've struggled so much.

[@nancylindsay4255]

@@VikVeerENTSurgeon Thank you for ranting on our behalf! And on searching for and presenting data to back it up.

[@NicTrades]

I had undiagnosed sleep apnea for 20 years. I was even prescribed modafinil for daytime sleepiness but no sleep test. Eventually I had a stroke and sleep test revealed AHI of 116. We have to do better at awareness. Since CPap therapy in June I have lost 50lbs without dieting. Thanks for all your videos

[@krg250163]

Thank you once again for such an informative video. As a middle aged man with a BMI of 30, I was often told to lose weight and things would improve. However, I am sure that I had this condition in my twenties when I was a lot lighter.

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

Very hard to break down the belief system of some people. If you had OSA as a young thin man, then this is unlikely to be due to being overweight. However losing weight would still help you now.

[@DB-CA]

The best explanation from an expert.

[@dylanpetkusmd]

Thanks for the insights! I struggled with loud snoring for years as a fit, healthy guy. I constantly got told "just lose 20 pounds" as the cure. The truth is, snoring has complex causes - I had structural issues like narrowed airways. No amount of weight loss was going to fix that. On the other side, something I've noticed with my patients, is that you can "get more" out of an airway with other modalities (position, breathing exercises, etc.). Either way, the key is not giving up. Just like Dr. Veer is helping out with, you have to keep educating yourself. That way you learn the nooks and crannies of your issues so that you can make more informed decisions.

[@daisykaiser9741]

Oh my gosh. THANK YOU!!!! An informative video presented with kindness. I am 6 months on CPAP therapy using an APAP machine. I have said the same things about why it is I could not lose weight. I have been actively looking for years for the things that might contribute -how my metabolism worked, sensitivity to sugar, etc. It has been a slow increase of weight throughout my life even though I exercised three times a week and various other physical activity. I watched what I ate because throughout my life my blood sugar has always been on the high side. I have alway been somewhat careful so that it didn't turn into diabetes but was always on the cusp. This has been for 40 years. And I am certain had I not watched I would for sure have become a diabetic. I think one of the final greatest discoveries was that I found out I had severe sleep apnea - over 60 episodes a night. I was always waking up to go to the washroom. It got worse and worse and I was desperate to get a full nights sleep so I could feel rested and after trying so many things I finally got a sleep test. I had been offered this before and am pondering why and what is the stigma to this condition that people don't want to get checked out for it. Perhaps it is because we feel somehow it is our fault and that there are things we could do and it would go away? Not wanting to wear the mask at night for various reason? The cost associated with it here in Canada and elsewhere is also a contributing factor I am sure and yet the condition can contribute to other health conditions that the health care system could eventually see. It seems these things are really an important thing to address. I lost 20 pounds in the first 4 months which included some minimal changes to my diet but not that much really. I was surprised at how easy it was. And I had tried diet changes before. And like the fellow below I am sure I have had sleep apnea for many, many years. It is so nice to feel rested and all the associated benefits I am seeing with that. My mother, who would have been 94, I am sure had it and always was embarrassed about her weight and how she could not lose it. I used to say she needed to get more exercise and so I did that in my life. I believe sleep apnea runs in my family and have just had another family member much younger who was diagnosed. People like you who do these videos are invaluable and precious for those of us searching. Thank you for the data and meta- analysis and commentary. I have also looked at the 5 exercises for sleep apnea video for the things I can do to also help. Thank you so much again. So glad I found you. One of the good positive things on the internet.

[@janmarsh4104]

I am so thankful for your evidence-based explanations in resolving sleep apnea and the clear, concise ways in which you articulate them for the layperson! Your videos have made great sense to me and are enabling me to find non-invasive solutions to my breathing problems. I am changing the way I breathe, using the "Sleep for Snorers" Cds and exercises, using a mandibular device and the Mute nasal dilators you recommended and seeing improvements that I hope to maintain. I live in America and am not part of NHS, but am tremendously blessed by your outreach. I hope you know/can feel how much you are appreciated and how grateful people are for your help and advice.

[@craftylady9912]

Thank you so, so so much for your video. I saw an ENT last year, who blamed my issues on being overweight and that was that! I finally did a sleep study a few weeks ago & discovered I was having 60 events per hour-yikes! 😱 After using a CPAP machine for 3 weeks, I am down to an average of 2.9 events per hour. This machine has started to change my life!

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@jmw0368]

What a refreshing aspect. If only other HCP's would listen to this / acknowledge the points being made. Thank you for the education!

[@LapperWestBaseball]

I started to cry watching this video.. I'm living this nightmare and have had these conversations with my health care provider with that same advice..I can't use the c-pap and I've tried all the masks..I just can't get over the feeling of claustrophobia or what water boarding may feel like.. I'm living this vicious cycle along with SLE Lupus and Sjogrens Syndrome

[@beastyshout]

I'm in a similar situation where I can't use a C-PAP machine. I will try to lose some weight and hope for the best.

[@discontinuity7526]

It's literally a waking nightmare 🙂

[@murriretro430]

That would suck, my story is I deal with a lot of stress and being overworked At my old workplace working 12hrs a days, 6days a week - minus the travel and meal prep, out in the fields around heavy mobile machinery that created a lot of fine bull dust That would go airborne everywhere, couldn’t help but inhaling it, everyday My throat and nose was always dry and sore. Ginger beer and a dust mask did ease the sinuses, but would never provide a good nights rest. Which obviously lead to weight gain. I now only sleep on my side as laying on my back cuts off my airway and breaks my sleep. Best nights rest, I ever get these days is going out camping around lakes or well greened areas that create crisp dew air in the mornings. And I’m very picky with my blankets an pillow covers. P.S. the other thing that really worked for me was fasting. If our bodies are storing food preparing and expecting a harsh winter or months without food, which each year never come.

[@nancylindsay4255]

@@beastyshout Have you been able to try a dental appliance? I am so sorry you are going through this. Know that it is not your fault that you have apnea.

[@DVD927]

I’ve had the mandibular advancement device custom fit in the past (I lost it though lol) and it worked great for me. Highly recommend it. I have an overbite & I had trouble with getting good mask seal from CPAP

[@james7149]

So agree with everything you’ve presented in this vlog. It’s also a great relief to hear so many “myths” finally debunked by a true specialist. Biological individuality continues as thread in these presentations...people accept diagnosis based on generalised conclusions...yet our bodies are complex and so varied physically and mentally... I’ve been told numerous times by GP’s that loss of weight will fix my obstructive sleep apnea (at 67 I’m slightly overweight)...I know in my case it might help to a small degree but believe what I need as well is targeted surgery (Ablation)...I suppose like many subscribers to this vlog, I live in a remote area and getting to ENT specialists or treatments is very difficult...thank you for these invaluable and informative vlogs Dr Veer.

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

You are most welcome - and I hope you get your solution soon.

[@deepstonecostco]

Thank you for this video. Heavyweight people deal with so many health issues that have a lot of legit causes but just get slapped on diets and exercise regimes that sometimes make things worse or ignore the real cause. I will.never forget being tricked into weight loss drugs that I had horrible reaction to or a friend whose cancer was ignored because no one believed she could be fat unless she was just lazy and undisciplined. We need discussions like this that talk about the intricacies beyond "have you tried not being fat".

[@vivienneburke5118]

So glad I found Dr Veer, I been diagnosed with OSA, severe 59 per minute. Tried so hard to lose weight nothing happened.I have been on a call machine for 5 night , I'm so relieved at last I can be treated waiting for a THR. The clinic is going to ring in 6 weeks to see how I'm doing .Fingers crossed I will get there Dr Veer is the only video I will subscribe too, thanks it's a reavalation!

[@fanymelo7424]

Excellent explanation . Showing the results from the study was very insightful.

[@25belac]

Excellent video! I’ve been tackling with sleep apnea for about 3 years now, and this is the best information I’ve found to date. My goal is to lose 30 pounds on the path to better health. Focusing on good deep sleep will help. Thank you!!

[@Backwardsman95]

This single singlehandedly gave me hope that my life will improve

[@ellenmacklin4986]

thank you, thank you! The docs have been telling me just that, to just loss the weight and exercise. Just thank you again! One stresser gone!

[@annavallone128]

I was diagnosed as t2 diabetic in 2016. I tried lowcarbing instead of meds but my appetite was too intense. In 2017 my dr suspected sleep apnea due to other things going on. I had a sleep study and the AHI was 167. After just 1 night on CPAP Iost all desire for processed foods/sugar. The weight came off effortlessly! I dropped from 370 lbs to currently under 200...size 4x to currently Medium.

[@gloriasaliba3395]

That’s amazing

[@spekovic1]

@@annavallone128 that’s a great news. How long it took you to lose that weight ?

[@quantumalight28]

Your video's are professional, enlightening and inspiring to watch. Keep up the great work you do as your information through these videos are a total breath of fresh air! (no pun intended.)

[@mrichards913]

Your enthusiasm shines through your video presentations, I certainly wouldn’t call it “a rant” Thank you very much for the data, it’s most interesting. Best regards

[@SWGDesign]

I suffer with PLMD and mild sleep apnea and you’ve just got a new subscriber based on how great your information is. 👍🏻😁

[@heatherh3457]

Most definitely. Apnea leads to weight gain. When you are exhausted you carb load to get a shot of energy. 69 times/ hour and I was barely functional. Grab some carbs and I could go on for a few more minutes.

[@TsigolohcysP77]

Thank you for your channel. I'm just now reaching a point in my life where I am educating myself about sleep, deeply engaged in interpreting my daily sleep study results and sleep in general. When I first heard your channel I was not able to process the information due to my lack of interest in sleep. This has now changed. Again, thank you!

[@jakec5618]

this is incredibly insightful. true healthcare. your approach can really help many people. in medicine it seems people treat very downstream of the problem. its time to change the thought process and approach

[@kimhuff]

WOW! I wish I had a doctor like you in the US. I've been trying to find a new ENT and I'm not having much luck. I've been fat all my life. Even at 10 years old my parents would say, she'd be such a pretty girl if she'd just lose weight. I've tried everything from hypnosis to surgery and I'm at my heaviest weight ever. I eat considerably less than the people around me but I can't lose weight. I swear I gain weight just by looking at food. Ever since my uterine cancer and my hysterectomy, it's damn near impossible for me to lose weight. I've had doctors tell me the reason I've had so many sinus infections is because I'm too fat. They tell me to lose weight and call them back. I am on oxygen at night (3.5 liters) and that started after my cancer surgery when they noticed my oxygen would drop below 89 when I was sleeping. They tried to set me up with a c-pap but I couldn't get 5 minutes of sleep with one of those things on. I'm nearly 60 now and I've given up at this point, but I wish I would have had someone like you as one of my doctors. Maybe my life would have been much different.

[@gloriasaliba3395]

Don’t give up make some small consistent changes - I’m 62 years of age have diabetes type 2 and sleep apnea - ive lost 60 pounds the last 12 months by removing processed carbs and sugar - have the occasional treat once a week - I eat within an 8-10 hour period say 12noon to 8 pm - I have 2 meals a day and a small snack - I focus on protein veges salads good fats - drink 3-3 litres of water - walk daily and strength train twice per week - improving my sleep has been the hardest to remedy - good luck !

[@DVD927]

Absolutely! My weight has been climbing, climbing! I snore louder than a bear. Had sleep apnea rate of 58. So if the AHI of 58 is per hour, then nearly every minute, my sleep is being disturbed. That’s how people are tortured. Tomorrow I find out what we’re gonna do

[@ashwintyagi8622]

Were you able to find any solution, would be helpful

[@twoonthewall]

Hey there how fid it turn out? Any improvement?

[@eljeepi]

This made me cry. I has sleep apnea as a child. Had surgery to remove my tonsils & adenoids. I've been overweight most of my life. I've lost & gain repeatedly and now I'm dealing with problems sleeping. I don't know when I'll be able to have my sleep study, but my constant fear is that, I won't get treated just told to loose weight, like it's a light switch. I just want to sleep 😔

[@deepthoughts8393]

Get a customized mouth guard. It’s the best for sleep apnea. Ask for at the sleep clinic say you want a mouthguard instead of the machine.

[@losfornia]

Any update

[@Stevielynnofficial]

Your amazing!! Thank you for all this amazing information! I have suffered with insomnia on and off for years and it’s gotten the worst it’s ever been the last year! I believe I have sleep apnea and I snore bad… I am looking forward to doing the exercises daily! Thank you for all this amazing knowledge and help!! May the Angels Bless you 😇

[@WayneLyons]

Thank you for sharing your expert knowledge of this problem with us free of charge.

[@senryuuhoutaro3353]

Weightloss helped a bit to improve my quality of sleep, but it didn't change the fact the inevitable diagnosis to remain sleep apnea.

[@hellofromdave]

The thing with the BMI, is that not everybody puts fat on around their neck in the same way. In my family we get a lot of fat around our face and neck. Other people I've observed that are overweight don't get fat faces and necks. I'd say that getting fat is going to make sleep apnea worse for you, particularly if you are prone to fatness around your face and neck.

[@ss-fs3fm]

Hello Dr. Veer: Thank you for your channel. I am overwhelmed by all the physical issues I have, and the answers you provide in your videos are comforting and inspire me to continue treating my body kindly and to be patient. I am chronically tired, have OSA, and have a deviated septum. With my work schedule, it has been difficult to get to my doctor's appointments and to schedule for surgery as quickly as I would have liked. I have been waiting for a CPAP for the past six months and was told that I was finally receiving one soon. I am scheduled for septoplasty and turbinate reduction in January. I hope to be able to experience energy for the first time in decades, and I hope to feel "normal" again. I look forward to exercising and moving my body again because I want to, and not because I "have" to.

[@881buddha]

Hello Sir, I love your chats. With each one there’s usually a small epiphany. What you were saying in this chat about our lifestyles moving to fast for are evolution. When people start believing there’s nothing to look forward to, they should, and I quote, subscribe to your channel. I thought the only thing left for me was Zazen, I’m sure you won’t need to Google that, but now I’ve got you to listen to.

[@adityavardhan428]

Thank you for clearing some confusion regarding OAS.

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

Glad it was helpful!

[@0e0]

I love your work on this channel. So thorough and thoughtful

[@carolynschweitzer7901]

Hi doc, I’m a dentists who helps patients in the US. Two pieces that I’d like to add to this puzzle. One is Myofunctional therapy which is like physical therapy for the face, mouth, and especially the tongue. With so much processed food in our diets we don’t have to work very hard to chew out food. If the muscles are weak there is less tone, particularly in the tongue and upper airway. The tongue tends to fall back easily when you lie down, blocking the airway, which is also more collapsible due to low tone. Also take a look at Buteyko Breathing. It’s a way to retrain people to breathe in a more relaxed and healthy manor both awake and asleep. Most people with asthma and apnea breath too shallow, too fast, use their chest instead of their diaphragm, and don’t respond normally to CO2 levels in their bloodstream. They are taking rapid, shallow breaths using the chest muscles rather than the diaphragm which signals the brain they are in stress mode. That releases all the same hormones you mention in your video, with the same consequences.

[@stormwalker321]

thank you for your kindness...

[@Juliopaints]

Did and in office procedure "Turbinate reduction" and started sleeping on my side and mouth taping APH went from 33 to 4 no more CPAP thank you Jesus 🙏🏼

[@bobmarshall3700]

Hi Vik, I lost 52 kg last year and was finally able to sleep without my CPAP for the first time in 20 years. (137kg down to 87kg). Weight loss made a huge difference for me. I got a new CPAP machine about three years ago when I was obese and still use it as a psychological aid and probably will continue to do so until it fails but I have slept for several nights without it with no snoring issues. Dr David Unwin has a great talk on KZbin that shows the benefits of a low carb diet on weight loss. In it he shows the scan of a fat person's tongue (which is larger and fatter and blocks the airway) contrasted to the scan of someone with lean body mass. The fat in the back of the tongue shows up really well and demonstrates how weight loss can get rid of the problem fat tongue and hence, sleep apnoea.

[@gallo4796]

Why sleep with cpap if you really cured it with weight loss it causes cancer ? Or even after weight loss you still suffer

[@candacecurtis5739]

As he stated, in a few people as in your case, it can help. However, it’s much more complex than that for the vast majority of people.

[@thegourmetgolfer5544]

@@gallo4796 Oftentimes once someone has overcome the initial discomfort with CPAP, they may develop a strong positive association between the therapy and having a restful, good night's sleep. It would make sense that, even though he may no longer need his CPAP, it may still provide him with that comforting feeling. Those who can't tolerate CPAP are actually in the minority and many people even learn to love using the machine. Also, care to expand on your "cancer" concern?

[@americarocks1776]

@@candacecurtis5739 I think it goes Way beyond a few people. I know several people in my own family who lost weight and had their CPAP resolve completely

[@gallo4796]

@@americarocks1776 Fr so once they lost a good weight the got cured of sleep apnea?

[@timdeakin2524]

Since cpap. I find sugary foods repulsive! When I wasn’t getting any sleep I craved sugary food!

[@stevemagnuson7051]

I was diagnosed with severe OSA 6 years ago with an AHI of 64. I weighed 210 lbs at time of diagnosis and lost 45 lbs over the first 4 years. Didn’t do much besides cut out alcohol and red meat. I had been a 2 beer a day drinker and loved my steak. Went to the Dr. with my concerns of loosing weight and he didn’t have a clue why. He said I wasn’t eating enough. Now my OSA has morphed into UARS symptoms. New sleep study required but I do have narrow nasal passages and partially collapsed nasal valves which I feel is at least one of the main problems. I was CPAP compliant the first 4 years then started to have trouble with the mask like it had too much pressure. I would awake every hour to hour/half like clockwork and have to pee. I can’t tell you how many Drs I’ve seen for OSA and related problems. And many so called Sleep Drs do not know the basics it seems. I can’t tell you how many times I was told to just continue with your CPAP after years of not sleeping right. The more I listen to informative presentations like this one, and gain more knowledge about OSA and UARS, the more I feel that my Dr’s have been negligent. In fact I had to request that an ENT physically examine my airway and identify obstructions as no one had ever taken a look in 6 years. In my case, I think the weight loss helped, as I don’t get winded while doing sports like I used to. But I am struggling against these collapsed nostrils, and if I hold them open with my fingers, I can breathe much better, so I am addressing this with the ENT Dr next week. Thank you Dr. Veer….your videos are literally saving my life bringing awareness to the details of OSA.

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

Thank you for sharing and saying such nice things. why not look at the video on nasal dilators before you see that ENT guy - might help your case? kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoHdaJ2uodCVZqs

[@stevemagnuson7051]

@@VikVeerENTSurgeon thank you. I just learned what nasal dialators are today, and ordered a set. I agree, this may help!

[@emilylee9894]

A lot of the problem with sleeping problem is a breathing problem due to the base of the tongue blocking the airway causing nose breathing to be impossible and mouth breathing to be limited. Old fashioned orthodontics that includes 4 premolars and 4 3rd molars to be removed has left thousands of patients to not have enough room for their tongue. This leads to the tongue falling back at rest and blocking the airway and/or the tip of the tongue pressing against the back of the back of the lower anterior teeth often creating scalloped indentations or imprints of the teeth anatomy by morning. By relaxing the lower jaw and protruding the tongue forward and outward past the teeth even slightly, the airway is opened enough to allow nose breathing. Their is an airway device that simply encases and holds the tongue forward, allowing the patient to breath more comfortably and restfully. I am in California so I don't know about the availability in the UK. Orthodontic and sleep appliance labs provide them after an evaluation by a sleep specialist or orthodontist. Now, contemporary orthodontists expand the maxilla and mandible using appliances.😷😜💤

[@jagsidhu8383]

Brilliant video!! I could really relate to this 👍

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

So glad!

[@JolynJessica]

i have trauma related night terrors over 17 yrs i wake uparound 4 times a night from those, i keep gaining weight because of lots of bad habbits, eating my feelings...depression...i wake up to go pee about 3 to 5 times so i never sleep more than 2 hrs at a time...snoring keeps me from falling asleep...circles! now apneas...man cant remember the last time i slept 3hrs straight. so always tired...more depressed, not able to work, more weight, back pain and so on. also my ex cut off 1/3 of my tounge so my jaw has reformed, more snoring...so this video is so great to see. maybe a few problems can be lessend wich will maybe allow me to have energy to do sports, or work wich will help mentally and phsicaly back to less weight, more energy happier feelings. thank you! now what anti snore devixe to choose????

[@alexandrecouture2462]

Very well-made video! Back in January, I went to see a doctor to have a complete checkup, because I had abnormal fatigue, not going away at all, no matter how much I slept. The tests were all good, even 2 covid tests were negative. He sent me to do a sleep apnoea test and while the test said that I had sleep apnoea, I did wait to take action, because I feel the test night was really terrible. I'll skip details to make it shorter, but in the end, what I had (and had to fnid myself...) was long covid. When I received the vaccine (Moderna) a few days ago, all my symptoms have progressively disappeared and fatigue is going away too.

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

Wow, really glad that it helped. I'm not up to date with long-covid, but well done for sorting it out. thanks for the comment!

[@shzainab]

How to take his appointment

[@shzainab]

@@VikVeerENTSurgeon I want to take appointment for my husband please

[@sora4222]

Thanks for this video. I really needed this information.

[@robertkemp185]

Thank you for such an amazing series of videos I am still struggling with CPAP to the point where I hate prospect of going to sleep. The issue is nasal congestion which I never experienced before using CPAP Have tried everything including changing masks, adjusting air pressure as well as humidity and Flonase, oral antihistamines, nasal solution Have lost 25lbs with another 15 lbs to go (Your video is clear and keeping my expectations low) Have consulted with my ENT and she recommends RF ablation in the sinuses to alleviate congestion. I am seeking a second opinion. Just want a solution as I am weary and a clinical depression due to sleep deprivation

[@barrie-lynn]

Thank you Dr. Vik! I have severe sleep apnea and hate wearing my mask, it’s very uncomfortable. I try to wear it but end up ripping it off because I can’t stand it. I’ll start wearing it again and hopefully it will help me lose weight.

[@digidrum2003]

I was the same...I am currently using a mouth piece that slightly pulls my lower jaw foward and it has helped me alot,bought it on Amazon ....not totally cured though,but I can function during the day. Good luck.

[@begenchsuhanov]

If you don't mind, how long you have been using the mouth piece, is there any problems with moving the jaw forward? Can you help with Amazon link please? Thank you @@digidrum2003

[@deepderp9957]

Really useful information. Yesterday I had the results of my sleep study. AHI of 38. I’ve eradicated everything from my life that could result in the fatigue I’ve been experiencing but coincidentally yesterday was one of the worst days I’ve had for daytime fatigue. So I’m at the end of my tether and so optimistic there could be a light at the end of the tunnel. I just have to wait to get my cpap machine, 12 weeks. Ugh. I just want to fix this. It’s been going on for years and I had no idea it was apnea. Anyway, thanks for this video, it’s really useful in helping me understand apnea further (I’m a fit healthy person but my weight gain, 20lb or so, has really confounded me…I do omad most of the time so it didn’t make sense although I was sneaking in uncharacteristic carb binges…I feel like a puzzle has been solved).

[@jacqieustioneverythingsmit5323]

I have really bad SA and stop breathing 39 times an hour , I knew I had SA back in 2010 , but my GP told me it was panic attack, I trusted him and just carried on , but in 2017 I was diagnosed as type 2 diabetes , controlled it by diet but never lost any weight , then in 2022 I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer high grade carcinoma , during recovery they said I have sleep apnea , still it was denied saying nothing was recorded , my husband fought for the test and it was extreme sleep apnea. I've just settled with a nasal mask and down to 8 events an hour , so my sleep apnea nurse is very happy with this , although last night it said i had 13. an hour , but still it is improved, so now I am hoping the weight drops off me and I regain my health and type 2 will be reversed . I also do a workout daily I just turned 59 and the cancer diagnoses was devastating and I am struggling with mental health added to a lifetime of anxiety. This video is amazing it has given me hope that I can improve my health . Thank you.

[@SLR-hn5yy]

Extremely informative thank you for presenting these facts

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

Any time!

[@thesteven292]

Makes sense, I’m in the military and have piled the weight on. My diet is not that bad and i have cut my drinking right down to next to nothing. Waiting on my CPAP machine from Bristol.

[@amandahogg681]

Such a grea video thank you! I wish I could see you as my Dr!

[@theweaklingcasuls488]

The worst condition caused OSA is the structure of tongue, nasal, or throat. I have a bodybuilder friend and snore like a tiger. His toungue and nasal structure made him suferred OSA. Then he went to professionals, and got surgery for his disadvantage structure. After that, he slept like stealth assassin. His contition is like what i suffered.

[@rhifunke6664]

Wow. I’ve never even met my sleep Dr. I was sent home with a machine by a receptionist and didn’t know how to use it for a year. I’ve had multiple sinus infections. Our healthcare here is embarrassing and repulsive. America the great… 😂

[@redbertiethechampion1863]

I was diagnosed with OSA 13 month ago! I changed my lifestyle with exercise and weight loss, 13 kgs down. Well, i got rid of my horrible snoring but my OSA is still severe😩

[@mikebrock1965]

I lost 40lbs and my OSA got worse. I had to start wearing a chin strap,taping my mouth shut and raised my pressure from 7 to 10. I respond to CPAP really well but it's a pain in the ass having all this stuff on my head every night.

[@thegourmetgolfer5544]

As a clinician in a CPAP clinic, it's clear that age (specifically the common decrease in upper airway/soft palate muscle tone associated with aging) is the most common cause of OSA I treat. The subject of weight and its relation to OSA is, exactly as you said, extremely complicated. It's very much determined on a case-by-case basis. If a CPAP patient undergoes a significant weight loss, generally I recommend another polysomnography assessment or PAP titration to determine any reduction in events/pressure needs. If their AHI is reduced or eliminated since their weight-loss, one can safely attribute their OSA to their weight (the degree of which is based on the reduction in AHI). If their AHI is still the same or similar post weight loss, I'll recommend a PAP re-titration to determine if their pressure needs have been reduced. This is because I will sometimes see a patient's severity (AHI) remain the same after weight loss, but the pressure required to alleviate their apneas may be reduced. Again, despite general studies and data suggesting a definite link between BMI and OSA, there too many variables to make any promises that one will be cured of their OSA by losing weight. Certainly never hurts to try though when you consider all of the other health benefits

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

Thank you for an excellent comment.

[@MusicByJC]

I have sleep apnea. When I lost weight, (60+ lbs). I definitely improved my sleep quality. I assumed that my sleep apnea improved and that is why I am sleeping better. I use to wake up multiple times per night. Sometimes only an hour would pass between waking up. Now, I usually sleep for 3-4 hours. I am a mouth breather and I will wake up and my mouth and throat will be dry, so I get up and sip some waters or have a little snack and then go back to sleep. Usually the next time I wake up, will be the time that I normally wake up. I noticed an improve after the first 30-40 pounds and only got better. There have been other changes like working out and eating better. Whatever the reason, getting a better nights sleep has improved by well being.

[@CC33777]

Were you using a cpap machine for your sleep apnea?

[@NecroBanana]

My sleep tech even told me getting thin you'd probably have OSA. He was as thin as a stick and had severe OSA from when he was 19. He had all the hallmark symptoms of OSA at that young age, yet he was skinny. Getting cpap treatment is what made him turn to becoming a certified sleep tech. 😅😅

[@gallo4796]

They lie to get paid.. he has central sleep apnea.. if before you got fat you sleep good it’s mostly weight related

[@tiernanseth]

Thank you Dr Veer, I think this is a very helpful and informative video. There are certainly a lot of uninformed negative stereotypes out there. My OSA actually got worse when I lost weight, which was unexpected and quite frustrating. I would love for you to do a video on positional sleep apnoea, if you haven’t already.

[@nsbd90now]

Even before watching this: I'm an oldster... my dad had bad sleep apnea (before we knew about it or CPAP was invented) and wasn't even remotely fat. I'm fat now, but always had it. Lucky to afford a CPAP now which is a wonderous joy. Here is my edit after watching the vid: Video affirms my anecdotal experience.

[@JemimaDoesASMR]

This is an old video but it's harrowing thinking about the poor people at the extreme ends of that chart. It's just upsetting to think there are people out there "living" with BMIs of 60.

[@T818-z5d]

I am 5'9, 65kg, so not overweight at all. I Was diagnosed with mild OSA few years back and was put on CPAP. After using it for 2 yrs I didnt feel any better though AHI while using cpap was under 5. Cortisol, TSH, Mg deficiency tests were done as well. All were normal. Its killing me everday to be so sleepy, low energy. Living in a 3rd world country, cant get any better supported. Not much experienced dr r here on this subject. Wish i could meet Dr Vik Veer.😔

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

Ask to look at your sleep study and use my (how to read a sleep study) video to read it. make sure you have checked your iron levels as you might have restless legs syndrome etc. Yes you need to find a good sleep centre. I'm sorry it's so hard for you.

[@T818-z5d]

@@VikVeerENTSurgeon Thanks Dr. I will do as you suggested.

[@ClairHobbit]

Thank you so much for clarifying this.

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kasnarfburns210]

I was diagnosed with OSA back in 2006. CPAP made a world of difference - not so much in weight loss but in mental sharpness. Then back in 2014, after making a few dietary changes and allowing myself to follow my natural sleep cycle it seemed (I'm a night owl ) I lost a "ton" of weight ( like 40 lbs). I hadn't been that slim since maybe college. I was 53-54 at the time. I knew I was a night owl but before CPAP, I struggled to stay awake doing over night shifts in the past. But since the CPAP, I could stay awake the whole night. I used to work as a hotel night auditor but decided it was a thankless job so no longer care to do it any longer. Back to working days I realize I don't get enough sleep - teetering around 5 hours. Recall my saying I'm a night owl? I there were some perks to working night shifts - but dealing with the public and management in a hotel wasn't one of them. I realize now how crucial adequate sleep is to maintaining a healthy weight.

[@agsndvl173]

how old were you when you were first diagnosed and how are you doing now if you dont mind answering? im going through the same thing :/

[@maxaffe3195]

its about the jaw positions and airway volume. jaw surgery (the right advancements ofc) have the highest sucess rates for curing sleep apnea

[@screamtoasigh9984]

You should do a video about sleep bruxism relating to sleep apnea. I had chronic pain for a decade, misdiagnoses galore, only to find out it was caused by grinding my teeth because of sleep apnea. It took so long not only because pain management and regular doctors aren't familiar with this link (bruxism/sleep apnea) but also because I was wearing a bite plate for bruxism since I was a teenager. So my teeth never wore down - making that indicator harder to notice. After a decade of doctors, surgeries and multiple treatments, finally I found a study online and immediately went to see if indeed my headaches and neck/back pain could be from sleep apnea bruxism. After being diagnosed and a poor experience with getting fitted for cpap, I switched to a dental appliance from a sleep dental center and wow, no more pain! No headaches!

[@pangojack]

Thank you for your video. I have been trying to lose weight for a long time now and have struggled. I better get my sleep apena under control and maybe my weight will take care of itself.

[@catspjs4747]

Beautifully explained 🙏

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

Thank you! 🙂

[@mcfly2727]

Rant was awesome! 🤣 (and true!)

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

I think i start ranting every time on video, this time I thought I would leave it in - just to see the reaction. The microCPAP rant was like 6 minutes long....

[@mcfly2727]

@@VikVeerENTSurgeon You too can earn money on YT from ranting!👍

[@jamescowley6555]

Thanks Dr, I’m overweight but no obese but my Sleep Consultant has said I’ve had OSA to some degree all my life before treatment I was hitting 100 AHI now 2 AHI with treatment. I’m trying to reach a normal BMI but I’ve been told this will still not relieve my OSA.

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

It will certainly help, and it might cure, but often getting to 100 AHI is caused by multiple issues. work on all of them at the same time and i think you'll see swift results.

[@jamescowley6555]

Thanks for the reply, I am lucky enough to be able to access private advice from an ENT surgeon on my anatomy. It looks like I have a receding jaw which isn’t helping, but I am focusing on losing weight and other things.

[@wonderfullife737]

But the resarch shows the strong relations with sleep apnea and Body fat percentage. Maybe if you see with body fat percentage, it will be more clear.

[@marizamentzou3293]

Diagnose with sleep apnea since 2021 at age 45 and all doctor were telling me was go lose the weight. The weight is super stubborn as you might expect meanwhile I'm stuck with untreated apnea as i can't manage the cpam.. I'm back to weight loss efforts decided i will win this time. But i do realise apnea may improve at best.

[@doughoad3610]

Doc, your videos are packed full of solid information backed up by real research. I would love to learn more about tonsils and other throat. Enlargements that contribute to sleep apnea.

[@homestylegravy]

Maybe the weight doesn't directly cause obstruction, but maybe just physically eating a lot causes the neck muscles to be worn out. I'm not overweight, but I've noticed that i snore when i eat a lot or even chew a lot of gum (20+ pieces).

[@3littlebirds729]

Thank you for sharing this information.

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

My pleasure! - Hope you found it useful!

[@seanys]

14 years of CPAP and, on the whole, my weight has only increased. Now I’m wondering if my CPAP has ever been effective. Sure, I don’t experience micro-sleeps anywhere near as often the during the day, but I still feel tired from time to time. Mind you, my untreated AHI was 62.5. I knew I had severe sleep apnea but I had no idea over only 30 was considered severe.

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

You need to use CPAP well for 7.5 hours a night to start reducing your weight

[@deannamadrigal7503]

So helpful, thank you. Yes, I believe I have sleep apnea and have a problem with weight. I have a small mouth and probably small throat. I also have lots of hormone imbalances. 🙏

[@seanys]

Heh, on the subject of being told to “go away and lose weight or I won’t operate on you” that’s exactly what the neurosurgeon said to me after telling me I needed a spinal fusion. Time for a 2nd opinion, methinks.

[@emate8422]

I got sever apnea and they are still talking about weight lossing, but since i train im no fat but i got 31 BMI. I got this since i was like 20 kg lighter but every body keeps telling that when i loose weight it will help me

[@VikVeerENTSurgeon]

I apologise on behalf of the sleep doctor community. sorry.

[@EricBrunoBorgman]

I was thin as a rail and in my early twenties when I was told I had a wicked bad snore when I was lying on my back. Years later, I found out I had moderate sleep apnea when I sleep on my back. I am now over weight, but, I am sure that I had it when I was thin as a rail in my twenties, so I don't think being over weight is causes it. It could make it worse I suppose.

[@outforbeer]

Imho sleep apnea is related to the size of stomach. I have sleep apnea and even though I’m overweight, on some nights I could sleep with no events at all, which I have narrowed down to what I ate that day. I think it’s gastritis that cause it

[@exodortch]

Also, we need a P-values, but a correlation of .3 means that weight can actually explain 30% of the trend. I.e. 1/3 of people could have less sexier or potentially eliminate apnea through weight loss.

[@discontinuity7526]

I'm a skinny dude, bodyfat around 10%, I'm the leanest of my friends, and I got sleep apnea from my dad. I think in the vast majority of cases weight gain only exasperates the already present disease, due to the pathology being mostly size of the tongue and the shape of the throat

[@dansmith9724]

Some medications play a big role in putting weight on and making it hard to lose weight. I was on a low dose tricyclic for insomnia after post viral fatigue syndrome and pit on 10kg within a few months and then i stopped this medication but could never lose that initial 10kg i put on from the drug. Later on i was put on lyrica from RLS and my wt went up abit and as time went on i developed chronic headaches and lyrica dose was increased to help prevent the headaches as well. I eventually put on a total of 30kg from lyrica. Last year after knee surgery and increasing headaches and realising i needed to lose wt to try and improve both issues, i have slowly tappered off lyrica, which i had been on for over 10yrs and changed over to toprimate for headache prevention. Ive been eating mostly a low carb diet most of my life, i feel better on it compared to a higher carb diet and it use to help me lose wt until i started lyrica. Now it just slows the weight gain down. So my low carb eating has been the same for along time but slowly tapering of lyrica over 6 months i have lost 22kg with no changes other than lyrica. Im now totally off lyrica and hopefully more to come. Currently seeing a neuro for the headaches and waiting to see a sleep/respiratory specialists. I had a sleep study done a few months back that said i had severe OSA. I was happy with the company i went through here in Australia i did the sleep study with. Thry were just interested in signing me up to a cpap plan and taking my money. I didnt even see a sleep dr. My short story on medications and wt gain though. Hopefully i get more answers in the future.

[@sdavey10]

Wow, thank you!

[@sheryllperez2795]

I decided to undergo sleep test 3 weeks ago because my GP suggested it because of my complains about sleeping; I experienced Dizziness as I woke up and so tired like I climbed a hill, always had nightmares, woke up gasping, i snore a lot, even my husband and children was scared because they saw me like not breathing, I am forgetful these days, less energy during work, sleepy, i tried dieting but still gaining weight, I am afraid with myself not waking up in the morning. I had my result the other day. It is severe OSA. There are a lot of recommendations listed in my result. one is to lose weight and as I understand with the video it will take a long time for me to lose weight . Now, I am looking at 2 option. Which is better CPAP or surgery?

[@azamoff]

I am 175 cm tall and have 75 kg weight. I have sleep apnea AHI 30. Sleep Apnea is not only caused of obesity.