If it doesn’t come as a surprise to learn that sleep apnea is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions in modern medicine, consider this even more astonishing detail—an estimated 10 million Americans who suffer nightly are left undiagnosed (1).

The most common sleep disorder, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), is the result of the throat muscles relaxing, cutting off the supply of oxygen to the rest of the body while asleep. This lack of oxygen triggers the brain to abruptly rouse from sleep, typically without notice, to reopen the airway. The continual interruptions in sleep can happen in OSA patients anywhere from five to a hundred times an hour per night, inhibiting a restful, restorative sleep.

Besides the constant daytime fatigue, drowsiness, and irritability that come with an inadequate night’s sleep, sleep apnea can also increase the risk for high blood pressure and heart problems. According to the Mayo Clinic, the sudden drops in blood oxygen throughout the night may lead to increased blood pressure and strain on the cardiovascular system. If left untreated, sleep apnea can also increase the risk for stroke and vascular disease.

Looking for a Solution

Dr. Joseph Zelk, known to his patients as “Dr. Joe,” is a dentist who specializes in sleep disorders and who creates dental appliances to treat OSA. Dr. Joe knew that one of the major contributing factors to sleep apnea was obesity, or having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30.

As Dr. Joe describes, “Your tongue is a lean piece of muscle, but when we start to gain weight, it becomes a big, marbled, fat piece of meat that creates an obstruction to normal airflow when you fall asleep.”

Because of the link between obesity and sleep apnea, Dr. Joe concluded that losing weight could help those suffering form sleep apnea (2, 3). Dr. Joe says, “For overweight and obese patients, as little as a 10 percent loss in body weight can lead to a 20 percent drop in the severity of sleep apnea.” In addition, in Dr. Joe’s experience, oral sleeping devices were not always effective for overweight or obese patients. So, Dr. Joe started searching for a more permanent and effective solution.

A Turning Point

While searching for a solution that would help his patients lose weight, Dr. Joe was approached by a new patient,  Patrick O., who visited Dr. Joe’s office in Las Vegas, Nevada seeking help for a case of severe sleep apnea. When tested, Dr. Joe found that Patrick had an Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) of 57 apnea events per hour.

“I was being subconsciously roused from my sleep almost every minute,” Patrick said.

During the appointment, Dr. Joe explained how weight loss might help to alleviate sleep apnea. While Dr. Joe and Patrick were discussing the best way to lose weight, Patrick revealed his past success using Isagenix products.* ** He’d been a long-time Associate who had fallen out of the Isagenix lifestyle, but was still very involved in coaching and building his business. To motivate Patrick to lose weight, Dr. Joe challenged Patrick to commit to one Isagenix 30-Day System.

Patrick immediately started the Isagenix 30-Day System, and, with Dr. Joe’s help, began treating his sleep apnea with a new medical device used orally. He found that, even after taking a holiday cruise, the change in nutrition, using Isagenix products as the foundation to his new diet, helped him lose weight and allowed him to feel more rested and energized.* ** As Patrick lost weight, the symptoms of his once severe sleep apnea started to fade.

According to Patrick, a restorative night’s sleep not only changed how he felt, but also made his weight-loss journey more effective. Patrick found that, with the new energy and focus he had, he was more motivated to stick to his plan and incorporate workouts into his schedule. He continued on the Isagenix system and, as of October 2014, he was down 45 pounds* and more motivated than ever.

Dr. Joe, already in relatively good shape, was intrigued by Patrick’s success with Isagenix products and decided to give Isagenix a try himself. After reviewing the products offered by Isagenix, Dr. Joe was especially interested in their potential for increasing muscle gains. After six weeks of committing to an Isagenix nutritional program, without any change in his workout routine, Dr. Joe had gained 11 percent in lean body mass and lost 10 percent of his body fat. His results inspired him to share the products with his family and staff and become an Isagenix Associate.

When an overweight client named James K. came into Dr. Joe’s office suffering from 112 (AHI) apnea events per hour a night, Dr. Joe suggested using Isagenix products to try to address James K’s weight issues together with the use of a CPAP breathing aid. Before being introduced to the Isagenix nutritional and cleansing program, James was eating sporadically, sometimes with just one meal a day due to his busy schedule. After hearing about Patrick’s and Dr. Joe’s successes losing weight with Isagenix, he was willing to give it a shot.

In just a few days, James said he started seeing results. He claims he was feeling more focused and rested throughout the day. Two months later, after experiencing a significant loss of weight, James said he was sleeping soundly, and was  “still getting great results.” In the past, James had tried other systems and said he never felt full, but now “at the end of the day I feel satisfied; Isagenix is totally different.” He has now released a total of 70 pounds*.

Dr. Joe has now consulted with approximately 30 overweight or obese patients suffering from sleep apnea and recommended they try Isagenix products for weight management. Because sleep apnea can occur even when a patient loses weight, Dr. Joe understands that this approach may not work for all of his patients, but due to the link between obesity and sleep apnea and the success he’s had helping patients lose weight with Isagenix, he definitely thinks it’s worth a try.

Important note: When promoting Isagenix products to a person with sleep apnea, Isagenix Associates should be careful to advise him or her to consult with a doctor before use. If you have sleep apnea, please be advised that you, like any other person with a serious medical condition, should consult with your doctor prior to beginning any weight-management program.

*Weight-loss should not be considered typical. In a study performed in 2012 by University of Illinois at Chicago researchers, subjects lost an average of 9 pounds with an average of 2 pounds of the loss from visceral fat after 30 days on an Isagenix system. The subjects also had a greater level of adherence and had more consistent weight loss from week to week in comparison to traditional dieting.

**The statements (appearing on this Web site) have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Isagenix products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

  1. Yarlagadda, A., Kaushik, S., & Clayton, A. H. (2008). Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Hypoxia, and Metabolic Syndrome in Psychiatric and Nonpsychiatric Settings. Psychiatry (Edgmont), 5(8), 48–50.
  2. Qaseem A, Holty JC, Owens DK, Dallas P, Starkey M, Shekelle P, et al. Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2013;159:471-483.
  3. Tuomilehto, Henri et al. The impact of weight reduction in the prevention of the progression of obstructive sleep apnea: an explanatory analysis of a 5-year observational follow-up trial. Sleep Medicine. 15(3), 329 – 335.