It’s no secret that weight loss can have some huge effects on your health. Weight management is one of our specialties here at Matthews Internal Medicine. We know that losing weight can have a variety of good health effects, but can it affect your sleep? That’s one thing we focus on at our practice. Here’s a look at the benefits you can expect to see as you lose weight.
How it Can Help
Reduced Odds of Sleep Apnea
If you’re overweight your doctor may have warned you about sleep apnea. Losing weight can help you reduce risk of developing this disease. Sleep apnea can wake you up in the middle of your night and affect sleep quality. You’re not as well-rested and you could end up falling asleep during the day or even behind the wheel of your car. This can be an incredibly debilitating disorder that a good weight management plan can help you avoid or fix.
Better Sleep Quality
A recent John Hopkins study showed that, even for people without sleep apnea, losing belly fat can dramatically improve sleep quality. This particular study focused on overweight people who had type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes. Before and after the study, participants filled out a form identifying their sleep-related issues. This naturally includes issues like sleep apnea and daytime fatigue, along with insomnia and excessive sleep.
After, the participants who had lost significant amounts of belly fat reported fewer sleep issues. This is a good indicator that weight loss can really help improve your sleep quality. That has other benefits as well.
Better Mental Health
When your sleep quality improves your mental health improves along with it. You’re not as tired all the time, you’re more aware, and you’ll able to get things done that you may have struggled with before due to your exhaustion. Improving sleep quality can make a big difference in your life. It won’t take long to realize that a weight management plan was well worth it.
Healthier Cardiovascular System
One problem with sleep interruptions and poor quality sleep is that both can even cause cardiovascular issues. If you struggle with high blood pressure or are at risk for heart attack, stroke, or other issues, obesity and poor sleep can contribute to all of these issues. Losing some weight can really make a big difference.
Less Snoring
Even if you’re not obese, being slightly overweight can lead to more snoring. Shedding fat can help you avoid that, and your partner will appreciate that as well. Of course, there could be other underlying medical issues affecting your snoring as well, so talk to your doctor.
Stop Restless Leg Syndrome
Excess weight can affect your breathing, but it can affect other aspects of your sleep as well. There are many causes of restless leg syndrome, for example, and one of them is obesity. This disorder can affect the quality of your sleep, making you tired and causing more weight gain. In more ways than one, restless leg syndrome and the worse sleep quality that comes with it can really make it harder to live a healthier lifestyle.
Contact us if you are near Matthews, NC and need help maintaining a healthy weight. We can help you achieve your fitness goals and obtain a healthier lifestyle.