Are weight trainers at higher risk for sleep apnea?

[gorillahung]

I read that having a large neck is a risk factor for developing sleep apnea. As bodybuilders and powerlifters tend to develop thick necks, could that cause sleep apnea?

 

[shibs]

Why do thick necks cause sleep apnea? Never heard this before..

 

[captainahole]

being overweight has more to do with it. A thick next shouldn't unless you have 2 or 3 chins then you would probably have an issue.

 

[b fold the truth]

Yes, they are. So are pencil necked elderly women.

 

[kx250rider]

I've done a fair amount of reading on it, as I have a LOUD snoring problem. I have never seen any mention of muscular necks making the problem of snoring worse, but body fat does. Body fat inflates the soft palate and uvula, which add to the closing up of the throat. Muscle tissue, if anything, would stiffen the interior of the neck, I would think, and thus help relieve the closing of the throat. Also, sleep apnea and snoring come hand in hand, but are NOT the same problem. I snore, but do not have sleep apnea. The difference is that you can snore all night but never stop breathing (me), or it is also possible to have sleep apnea but barely snore at all. There is a lot of confusion and public unawareness on this. Sleep apnea happens when your soft palate rests down on your throat, and you don't continue to breathe in your sleep. You wake up repeatedly to take a breath, and in bad cases, you might go long enough to hurt yourself between waking up to breathe. So it's serious business.

Just to clarify on my problem: I don't have a very large neck at all, and my body fat is around 5%. So I have a small, lean neck, and still snore.


Charles

 

[hardrock]

I have had Slep Apnea for about 4 years now. It's not an issue if I sleep on my side. So I have to sleep this way every night. Once in a while I will nod off on my back and I am awakened by an apnea almost every time. I had a sleep study done at a sleep center in madison, when I lived there. Only real option is a CPAP mask, or whatever the hell they're called. They are expensive as fuck, and the hell if I am gonna sleep with a fuggin gas mask on my face. So, for now I'll sleep on my side



BTW, sleep apnea sucks.

 

[Roxy722]

When I was at my heaviest (which fell into the morbidly obese category) I did a sleep study too and was diagnosed with sleep apnea. The CPAP sucked and I didn't wear it long....hardrock, I still have my mask if you want it!!

Losing weight, the problem went away. I still snore if I'm on my back but don't have the same issues with holding my breath. Sleeping on my side still works better overall too.

 

[b fold the truth]

How much for your CPAP! Shipping and taxes might kill me...but still...

 

[ExtraMile]

if the sleep apnea is a serious problem shouldnt you get some sort of prescription for it? sleep apnea has killed people in their sleep before I would expect you to get one for free if you have free health care in your country or get one on health insurance or whatever if not...

 

[Roxy722]

How much for your CPAP! Shipping and taxes might kill me...but still...

I only have the mask...the machine is long gone. So not sure how helpful that would be?? If you want it, I'll just send it to you. Mark it as a gift.