Health News__
Weight Loss Improves
Mild Sleep Apnea

.....Losing weight through lifestyle changes can improve or even reverse mild cases of the nighttime breathing disorder, sleep apnea, a new study suggests.
.....The study, of 72 overweight adults with mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), found that those placed on a diet-and-lifestyle regimen not only lost weight but showed significant improvements in their sleep apnea.
.....OSA occurs when the soft tissues at the back of the throat temporarily collapse during sleep, causing repeated breathing interruptions. Major symptoms include loud snoring and daytime sleepiness.
.....Over one year, participants lost about 22 pounds, on average, and the more weight they lost, the more likely they were to see their OSA go away.
.....Of those who managed to shed more than 33 pounds, 88 percent no longer had OSA by the study's end. That figure was 62 percent among patients who lost between 11 and 33 pounds, the researchers report in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
.....The findings suggest that weight loss through lifestyle change is a "feasible and effective treatment for the majority of patients with mild OSA
.....People with OSA have a heightened risk of heart disease. It's thought that repeated bouts of oxygen deprivation during sleep may, for example, raise blood pressure, which takes a toll on the cardiovascular system over time.
In this study, OSA patients' weight loss was accompanied by improvements in their heart risk factors, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol. For their study, the researchers randomly assigned the 72 overweight, middle-aged adults in the early stages of OSA to either take part in an intensive lifestyle-change program or receive standard advice on diet and exercise.
.....The former group first went on a low-calorie diet for 12 weeks, restricting themselves to 600 to 800 calories per day. They also had several counseling sessions on how to keep up a healthier diet and start an exercise routine. The positive results suggest that similarly intensive lifestyle changes should begin soon after OSA is diagnosed

Osteoporosis
.....Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to lose mass and become thin and brittle. Weaker bones mean there is more risk of breaks, which can result in pain, deformity, and other serious consequences. As people age their bodies start to re-absorb calcium from their bones, leading to some loss in bone density. Osteoporosis occurs when the bone loss is excessive. Osteoporosis is sometimes called the “silent disease” because many people do not notice symptoms until they break a bone. Symptoms for older people may include:
.....• fractures of the hip, wrist, or vertebrae (back bone)
.....• back pain
.....• loss of height
.....• vertebral collapse, which shortens and curves the spine
Osteoporosis affects about one in four women over the age of 50 and one in eight men over 50. You are more at risk of osteoporosis if you:
.....• are 65 years or older
.....• are of Caucasian or Asian descent
.....• have a history of osteoporosis in your family
.....• have a thin (small-boned) frame and low body weight
.....• do not have a period for more than three months (unless you
.....• are on birth control pills)
.....• started menopause before age 45
You have an increased risk for osteoporosis if you:
.....• eat lots of high-protein foods
.....• drink a lot of alcohol or caffeinated beverages
.....• do not get enough calcium or vitamin D
.....• do not do much weight-bearing exercise
Talk to your doctor if you have risk factors for osteoporosis. There are several ways to determine how much bone mass you have lost. Your doctor may recommend a heel ultrasound, bone density scan, or other tests.
You can reduce your risk for osteoporosis by making healthy choices about what you put into your body. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables — at least 5–10 servings a day. This will give you nutrients that help keep your bones strong and prevent fractures. Other things you can do to help prevent osteoporosis include getting enough calcium, getting enough vitamin D, and staying physically active.

  Age Daily intake level (from all sources)
men and women over 50 years 1500 mg
men and women 19-50 years 1000 mg
pregnant or lactating women 18 years or older 1000 mg
adolescent children 9–18 years 1300 mg
prepubescent children 4–8 years 800 mg