COVID-19 and Sleep Apnea

COVID-19 is a viral illness that has caused a global pandemic. While COVID-19 can affect anybody, having certain health conditions can put you at higher risk of serious complications. Many people are aware of some of the risk factors, such as older age or underlying respiratory conditions, but experts suspect that sleep apnea can also be a COVID-19 risk factor.1

How Does Sleep Apnea Increase COVID-19 Risks?

Sleep apnea or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder that causes breathing difficulties during sleep. Symptoms include waking up gasping for air, feeling fatigued, and loud snoring. In addition to being a risk factor in itself, sleep apnea can also increase the likelihood of other serious conditions that are known risk factors for coronavirus complications, such as Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.2

Managing COVID-19 Risks for Patients with Sleep Apnea

All Americans are advised to follow CDC guidelines for reducing the impact of the current pandemic, and if you have risk factors for COVID-19 complications you should be especially vigilant in these practices:

  • Wear a clean, washable mask that covers your nose and mouth whenever you are interacting with people outside your immediate household.
  • Stay 6 feet apart from others whenever you are in public.
  • Wash your hands often, using soap and water and scrubbing for 20 seconds.

Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

One of the most common treatments for sleep apnea is a CPAP machine to help you breathe through the night. If your doctor has prescribed a CPAP machine or other treatments for your sleep apnea, you should continue using them and consult your doctor with any questions. However, treatments such as CPAP will not reduce your risk of COVID-19.

You may consider bariatric surgery if you are seeking an effective solution to sleep apnea that also addresses co-existing high-risk conditions such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Experts believe that weight loss surgery may provide remission of obstructive sleep apnea in up to 85 percent of cases.3 Procedures such as gastric bypass and gastric sleeve can provide a significant and sustained weight loss in a way that diet and exercise alone often fail to do. Weight loss patients at Texas Laparoscopic Consultants in Houston are able to take control of their health and reduce or eliminate their dependence on sleep apnea treatments while also developing healthier habits and more confidence. Contact us today to learn more or schedule your virtual consultation.

1 Feuth T, Saaresranta T, Karlsson A, et al. Is sleep apnea a risk factor for Covid-19? findings from a retrospective cohort study. Sleep Med Dis Int J. Published online October 22, 2020. doi:10.15406/smdij.2020.04.00075
2 Mayo Clinic. Sleep Apnea. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/symptoms-causes/syc-20377631 Accessed December 28, 2020.
3 Cleveland Clinic. Bariatric surgery for treating sleep apnea. Available: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/-/scassets/files/org/bariatric/guides/sleep-apnea-brochure.ashx?la=en Accessed December 28, 2020.

The TLC Surgery Doctors have either authored or reviewed and approved this content.

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