Lose fat in your tongue to improve sleep apnea, study says | CNN (2024)

CNN

Have you ever asked yourself: Do I have a fat tongue?

It’s not a idle query. If you are one of the one billion people globally who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, having a fat tongue could be a key reason you snore, choke, gasp or stop breathing periodically during the night, ruining your sleep and potentially your health.

“The question then was if you reduce the fat in your tongue, does that improve your sleep apnea? And the answer from our paper is ‘yes,’ ” said Penn Medicine sleep specialist Dr. Richard Schwab, the lead author of a new study published Friday in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Shutterstock Related article Experts say the keto diet isn't sustainable, so why is it so popular?

Obesity is a key risk factor for the condition. A previous study by Schwab and his team had found obese people with obstructive sleep apnea had considerably larger tongues with higher percentages of tongue fat than obese people without the condition.

The new study found you can trim down your fatty tongue as you lose overall body fat.

“This study shows reducing excess fat in general can reduce tongue size,” said Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a sleep specialist at Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California, who was not involved in the study.

In the new paper, the researchers used MRI imaging to measure the effect on upper airways of a 10% weight loss in 67 obese patients. The images showed reducing tongue fat was the primary reason overall sleep apnea scores improved by 31%.

“In fact, the more tongue fat you lost, the more your apnea improved,” said Schwab, who is the co-director of the Penn Sleep Center at Penn Medicine.

Lose fat in your tongue to improve sleep apnea, study says | CNN (2)

MRI's on the left show levels of fat (in yellow) before weight loss. The images on the right show decreased levels of fat after a 10% overall weight loss.

Costs of sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea, called OSA, is dangerous to one’s health. lt can damage the brain’s white matter, raise blood pressure, contribute to depression and heighten the risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Shutterstock Related article Losing one night's sleep may increase risk factor for Alzheimer's, study says

In America, where approximately 30 million people have obstructive sleep apnea, the cost to society in lost productivity, accidents and health care is estimated to be $150 billion a year, according to a study commissioned by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Diagnosing and treating every American could save more than $100 billion each year, the study said.

Treatment options

Currently, the gold-standard treatment for OSA is continuous positive airway pressure, known as CPAP therapy. People wear a device over their nose and mouth that is connected to a machine that blows air into their mouths, thus keeping the airway from narrowing.

In addition to irritating side effects, such as congestion, runny nose, dry mouth and nosebleeds, many people – and their bed partners – find it difficult to sleep long-term with the tubes, masks and noise of the CPAP machine. A 2016 study looked at data over 20 years and found the rate of noncompliance hovered at 34% over the two decades.

Obesity increases the risk and severity of obstructive sleep apnea, but there are many people with OSA who are not overweight, Dasgupta said. That means something else might be at play.

“What are going to be things that could block or clog or upper airways? It’s going to be the tonsils, the uvula, the soft palate and the tongue,” Dasgupta said.

In addition to the tongue, the new study found that weight loss also reduced the size of the jaw muscle that controls chewing and the muscles on each side of the airway, but none of those reductions were as significant as the loss of tongue fat, Schwab said.

Photo Illustration/Thinkstock Related article Eating in a 6-hour window and fasting for 18 hours might help you live longer

The finding may open up new avenues of treatment that uniquely focus on reducing tongue size, such as cold sculpting currently being used on stomach fat, Schwab said. More research is also needed, he said, to tease out whether certain diets might hasten fat loss in the tongue, and if there are certain exercises that help.

For example, small studies have shown that playing wind instruments and the Australian didgeridoo have shown promise as an alternative treatment for those who cannot manage a CPAP machine.

There’s also a need to understand more about why the tongue has fat at all, Schwab said.

“It’s a muscle which we use to talk, breathe, eat. So why should it have any fat? Yet it’s marbled with fat,” Schwab said. “We don’t understand that. We don’t know if the fat is partially genetic or partially related to obesity. But I think it’s an important factor in treating sleep apnea.”

Lose fat in your tongue to improve sleep apnea, study says | CNN (2024)

FAQs

Lose fat in your tongue to improve sleep apnea, study says | CNN? ›

In the new paper, the researchers used MRI imaging to measure the effect on upper airways of a 10% weight loss in 67 obese patients. The images showed reducing tongue fat was the primary reason overall sleep apnea scores improved by 31%.

What is the tongue thing for weight loss? ›

The patch is made of Marlex, a polymer composed of polypropylene and high-density polyethylene. The procedure for stitching the patch to the tongue takes about ten minutes. Since consuming solid food is painful, the dieter has to resort to a restrictive 800-calorie liquid only diet developed by Chugay.

What is the electric tongue for sleep apnea? ›

The hypoglossal nerve stimulator is meant to open the airway by moving the tongue forward during sleep. When it is activated, it electrically stimulates the hypoglossal nerve to the tongue. This causes a muscle contraction that brings the tongue forward.

What is the device for sleep apnea tongue exercise? ›

Tongue-stabilizing devices (TSDs) are also called tongue-retaining devices. They treat OSA by pulling your tongue forward using suction. A suction bulb on the device holds your tongue in place while you sleep.

Can tongue posture help sleep apnea? ›

In conclusion, holding the tongue in a protruded position and in its resting position will improve the abnormal breathing events with superior effects by the former during intravenous sedation in OSA patients.

How do you lose fat on your tongue? ›

The new study found you can trim down your fatty tongue as you lose overall body fat. “This study shows reducing excess fat in general can reduce tongue size,” said Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a sleep specialist at Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California, who was not involved in the study.

How much does the tongue patch diet cost? ›

Patients go on a strict, 800-calorie-per-day liquid diet of shakes and low-calorie beverages until the patch is removed after one month. The plan also involves a 45-minute daily workout. "An average weight loss is anywhere from 18 to 20 pounds," Chugay said. The ten-minute procedure costs $2,000 and takes 10 minutes.

What is the new treatment for sleep apnea tongue? ›

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation is a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea that uses an implant to stimulate a nerve under the tongue to prevent the tongue from blocking the airway. As of 2023, the only hypoglossal nerve stimulator that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration is the Inspire device.

Can tongue exercises cure sleep apnea? ›

Although mouth and throat exercises may help with snoring related to obstructive sleep apnea, upper airway exercises are not an effective treatment for OSA. Myofunctional therapy should not replace other treatments for sleep apnea prescribed by a doctor.

What does your tongue look like if you have sleep apnea? ›

A scalloped tongue will appear swollen or puffy. Often, patients unconsciously push their tongues into their mandibular teeth as they strain to breathe while asleep. This leaves visible waves or notches that form uneven ridges on the perimeter of the tongue surface.

What are the side effects of the tongue retention device? ›

Potential risks of the TSD include sore- ness and/or discomfort of the tongue, excessive saliva or dry mouth, and discomfort of the lips, teeth, and gums.

What is the best sleep apnea mouth device? ›

Our Top Picks
  • Best Overall. SnoreRx Plus Anti Snoring Mouthpiece. ...
  • Best for Sleep Apnea. American Sleep Dentistry Oral Appliance. ...
  • Most Comfortable. CareFusion ApneaRx Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece. ...
  • Best Value. SLEEPON M2 Anti-Snoring Mouthpiece. ...
  • Best for Back Sleepers. ...
  • Easiest to Use. ...
  • Best Tongue Stabilization Device.
Jun 6, 2024

What is the new device used for sleep apnea? ›

The Inspire sleep apnea device is an innovative surgical implant using gentle electrical pulses to keep your airway open while you sleep. Unlike traditional CPAP machines, the Inspire doesn't require large equipment or a mask—just the implant and the remote to turn it on and off.

Is it better to sleep with mouth open or closed with sleep apnea? ›

“You would think that if you open your mouth you would breathe better, but actually the reverse happens,” he said. Opening your jaws causes the tongue to slump backward, obstructing your airway. “Even if you don't have sleep apnea, or you have mild sleep apnea, opening your mouth makes it much, much worse.”

How do you do the mouth trick for sleep apnea? ›

Tongue Exercise #1: Tongue Slide
  • Place the tip of your tongue against the back of your top front teeth. Slowly slide your tongue backward with the tip moving along the roof of your mouth. Repeat 5-10 times.
  • This strengthens your tongue and throat muscles.
May 9, 2024

Do tongue sleeves work for sleep apnea? ›

Oral appliances are sometimes recommended for managing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). A tongue stabilizing device (TSD) is one that can help sleep apnea by pulling the tongue forward, improving breathing and reducing waking up throughout the night due to low oxygen levels.

What is the under the tongue weight loss medication? ›

What are Semaglutide ODT Tablets? Our sublingual semaglutide tablets, also known as oral dissolvable tablets (ODT), are designed to be taken daily. This prescription medication, part of our iThriveLEAN program, helps control your appetite and increase feelings of fullness as part of a comprehensive weight loss plan.

What is the wire mouth shut for weight loss? ›

There was a period in the 1970s and 1980s when doctors wired shut the jaws of people for up to a year to help them lose weight. People did lose weight initially when their jaws were wired shut, comparable to those who received bariatric surgery, but many of them regained the weight after doctors removed the jaw wires.

What does a fat tongue indicate? ›

Overgrowth conditions such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and vascular anomalies of the tongue can lead to its enlargement. Other conditions such as Down syndrome, trauma, inflammatory conditions, primary amyloidosis, and congenital hypothyroidism may also be associated with a large tongue.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Nathanial Hackett

Last Updated:

Views: 5839

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nathanial Hackett

Birthday: 1997-10-09

Address: Apt. 935 264 Abshire Canyon, South Nerissachester, NM 01800

Phone: +9752624861224

Job: Forward Technology Assistant

Hobby: Listening to music, Shopping, Vacation, Baton twirling, Flower arranging, Blacksmithing, Do it yourself

Introduction: My name is Nathanial Hackett, I am a lovely, curious, smiling, lively, thoughtful, courageous, lively person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.