Sleep apnea may be quietly changing your body in an unexpected way, study finds

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG. Dr. Wendy Troxel, a Utah-based sleep expert, shares guidance for couples dealing with disruptive nighttime breathing issues. Researchers in Israel have discovered a difference in muscle structure in those with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). According to a new study published in the journal Sleep and Breathing, people with OSA tend to have a higher muscle mass index, reflecting greater area relative to height, as well as lower density. This means people with OSA may look like they have more muscle, but that muscle tends to be less dense and potentially less functional. POPULAR SLEEP POSITIONS COULD BE DAMAGING YOUR NERVES, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS The researchers gathered data from 209 adults in an overnight sleep study who underwent chest or abdominal CT scans, according to a press release. Compared with a control group, the researchers found that people