Sleep apnea in overweight and obese people should see a doctor?

Question
Hello doctor,
My younger brother was born in 1997, 1m80 tall, weighs about 160-180kg, obese. When she sleeps, she snores loudly, speaks in dreams, has difficulty breathing and often has difficulty breathing leading to waking up many times at night. I have read an article about the symptoms of sleep apnea syndrome of obese patients on Vinmec's website, which is quite similar to my current situation. Looking forward to the doctor's advice on sleep apnea in overweight and obese people, should they go to the doctor? Thanks for the advice doctor.
Anonymous customer
Answer
Answered by Master, Doctor Nguyen Huy Nhat - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine, Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.
Hello,
With the question “Sleep apnea in overweight and obese people, should you go to the doctor? ", the doctor answered as follows:
Sleep apnea is a condition in which the patient has short episodes of breathing that usually last more than 10 seconds during sleep.
There are two types of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is when a person's upper airways become narrow or blocked, leading to sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common disease, especially in overweight and obese patients. Central sleep apnea is when your brain doesn't send the signals that control the respiratory muscle system to maintain regular breathing during sleep. This disease is common in patients with trauma or diseases of the brain.
You should take your child to Vinmec to be examined first, then the doctor may order a polysomnography test, confirm the diagnosis, and then offer the most appropriate treatment.
If you still have questions about sleep apnea in overweight and obese people, you can go to a hospital under Vinmec Health System for an examination. Thank you for trusting and sending questions to Vinmec. Wishing you lots of health.
Best regards!