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Sleep apnea, however, can have more direct health risks. If left untreated,
sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, other forms of cardiovascular
disease, memory issues, impotency, headaches, and weight gain. In
extremely serious (but also extremely rare) cases, death can even result.
Fortunately, doctors can easily diagnose and treat sleep apnea. Some studies
show that a 10 percent reduction in weight cand lead to a 26 percent reduc-
tion in respiratory disturbance.
So what costs of being overweight have we found in this chapter?
Osteoarthritis is both painful and debilitating. A person suffering from
osteoarthritis simply can’t live as she used to. Even routine tasks like shop-
ping, walking to get the mail, or getting in and out of a car become a chal-
lenge. Every move causes discomfort.
Sleep apnea impacts us in ways we probably don’t even realize. It’s easy to
downplay being tired, but when you’re tired, you can’t think straight or func-
tion properly. Job or school performance can suffer as one’s memory and
clarity of thought muddles. Relationships can also suffer because one may
simply be more irritable and moody. Eventually depression can set in.
Aching and Exhausted: Osteoarthritis and Sleep Apnea / 77
Text-Dependent Questions:
1. Why are people with obesity more likely to
suffer from osteoarthritis at an early age?
2. What are four signs that a person is develop-
ing osteoarthritis?
3. Why are people who are overweight or obese more likely
to develop sleep apnea?
4. List five dangers associated with sleep apnea.