Obstructive sleep apnea or OSA most commonly occurs in older men who are overweight or obese, however, there have always been exceptions to this. The illness also occurs in women, in children, and in people of all sizes, though generally not as frequently. Unfortunately, this can make it difficult to test for sleep apnea, because sometimes people simply don’t ‘fit’ the demographic, and thus don’t get tested because sleep apnea seems unlikely in their individual situation. But a new study is highlighting the importance of expanding testing for sleep apnea, even in those with healthier body weights.The study was conducted by the Freemason’s Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing (FCMHW) at the University of Adelaide in Adelaide, Australia, and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), and found that among men with higher blood triglycerides (fat in the blood) the risk of sleep apnea was higher as well. What was surprising, however, was that many of the men with higher triglycerides were not overweight - in fact, many were considered “lean.”The study used men’s data from the Men Androgens Inflammation Lifestyle Environment and Stress Study (MAILES), a study of men over 40 in Australia. Using data from 753 subjects, approximately half were found to have moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, with 75 percent of male subjects over the age of 40 having some form of sleep apnea.So, what does this mean for you? First, if you have high triglycerides, it’s important to work with your doctor to help reduce your triglyceride levels to help prevent heart disease, vascular illness, and artery diseases. Second, even if you are lean or fit, remember that high triglycerides can still pose a significant danger to your health, including obstructive sleep apnea. If you do have high triglycerides and feel tired or sluggish throughout the day, wake frequently, struggle to breathe during sleep, snore, or notice a decline in your cognitive function during the day, it may be worth it to be tested for obstructive sleep apnea - even if you’re otherwise lean or healthy.If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and are looking for a safe, natural way to control your symptoms, Dr. Peterson can help. With custom sleep orthotics designed to fit your individual mouth without the use of machinery or forced air, a custom sleep orthotic is the sleep apnea solution you’ve been looking for.