Apparently, the tongue should be thinned to relieve sleep apnea

We know a tongue that is puffy, puffy, white, notched or just pinkish, but admit that this is the first time we have encountered the concept of a fat tongue. Researchers still don't know why fat is present in it, but a new study has revealed its impact on our health

Apparently, the tongue should be thinned to relieve sleep apnea

In the video: A story about a creative solution to snoring

Snoring is an annoying matter, there is no argument about it, but it is also a matter that could jeopardize your health (and not necessarily because of the reactions of those lying next to them). The snoring may indicate that you belong to the billion people around the world who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) - a dangerous condition for health that can damage the white matter of the brain, raise blood pressure, contribute to depression and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

A new study reveals that the reason for snoring, heavy gasps, and choking sensations that are characterized by sleep apnea is also overweight as much as our tongue.

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Obesity is a major and recognized risk factor for sleep apnea, a condition that has upper respiratory obstruction causing breathing difficulties for more than ten seconds, frequently over night. The blockage leads to a decrease in blood oxygen level and suffocation, as a result of an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood. Dr. Richard Schwab - an expert at Penn Medical Sleep Center and lead author of a study published this week in the American Journal of Respiratory Medicine, argues that sleep apnea can be improved by reducing fat in the tongue.

The factors in the mouth that can block or clog or the upper respiratory tract are the tonsils, the rump, the palate and the tongue. A previous study by Schwab and his team found that obese people with obstructive sleep apnea had a significantly larger tongue and higher percentages of fat compared to obese people who did not have apnea.

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Researchers used MRI imaging to measure the effect of 10 percent weight loss on upper respiratory tract in 67 overweight patients. The scans showed that reducing fat in the tongue was the main reason for a 31 percent improvement in their sleep apnea. "In fact, the more fat you lose in your tongue, the better your condition," concluded Dr. Schwab.

In addition to reducing fat in the tongue, the new study found that weight loss also reduced the size of the jaw muscle that controls the chewing and muscle size on each side of the airway, but none of these reductions were as significant as the loss of tongue fat. How to reduce weight in the tongue? Right now only because of lowering body weight.

Meanwhile, the most recommended treatment for sleep apnea. Old man with CPAP device (Photo: ShutterStock)

Old man in bed connected to CPAP device for sleep apnea (Photo: ShutterStock)

The most recommended treatment for sleep apnea is a device called Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) based on continuous positive airway pressure. Patients wear a device over the nose and mouth that is connected to an air-flowing machine, thus preventing the airway from narrowing. The downside of this solution is the unpleasantness it creates for the user. This includes irritating side effects such as congestion, runny nose, dry mouth and bleeding from the nose, as well as difficulty sleeping with the pipes, masks and noise of the machine (difficulty in bed partners too). A study done in 2016 that looked at data from over 20 years found that the device's non-response rate ranged around 34 percent in those two decades.

Other options include weight loss for overweight people, bariatric surgery, myocardial therapy for palate-strengthening exercises by a communication clinician, implantation of a dental device to pull the lower jaw forward so that the tongue does not fall back, or pacemaker implant to prevent tongue fall (treatment available abroad) .

Why is there any fat in our tongue?

Dr. Schwab's new research findings may open up new treatment options for targeted and unique tongue size reduction, such as melting cold fat (which is currently used to reduce stomach fat). Schwab says further research is needed to identify out of the plethora of diets that may precipitate lipid loss For example, a 2013 study in the United Kingdom found that singing could reduce snoring significantly by activating the throat muscles, a study presented at a Barcelona conference showed that 18 percent of people who play nighttime snorkeling were 18 percent, compared to 45 percent. People who didn't play any musical instruments And the brain recommended instruments like a trumpet or trombone, and for those who really want to go too far, the Australian DiGrido will do the job, too.

In addition, one should investigate and understand why fat is at all, Schwab said. "We use this muscle to talk, breathe, eat. So why do he have fat? We don't understand it. We don't know if fat in the tongue is genetic or obesity-related, but I think it's an important factor in treating sleep apnea."