We are all going to die . . .

[hobbs]

Just don't know when!
This news story made my day.

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la- ... 3078.story

As long as I holdout to my trip to Egypt next year I'm OK.

[Snoredog]

well that study will do wonders for your life insurance premium now won't it

[deerslayer]

well that study will do wonders for your life insurance premium now won't it

....so will the Triumph Bonneville T100 i'm gonna pickup monday Rock on y'all

[JeffH]

Figured that out at 29 with they put my first pacemaker in. Wearing out number 3 right now. The realization changes how you live your life.

[carbonman]

Just don't know when!

My plan is to live forever.....

so far.....so good!

[packitin]

Well, I'm really glad for that encouraging news. Its good to know that I clean my machine every night, hook hoses to my face, drown out my favorite radio station, sleep with my dog instead of my wife, wake up with headaches most of the time, get to spend those lovely nights in the sleep center with all the fellowship of people I don't know ...and then they tell me in this report that there is only a "hint" of lowering my chance of dying because of this. Well, gollie, gee, what fun!

[Guest]

It is hard to draw conclusions from epidemiological studies like this. It may be that more people with moderate to severe sleep apnea in that group of peole were more obese and had other health problems (other than sleep apnea) such as cardiac disease, diabetes, uncontrolled high blood pressure, etc. compared to the other people in that group. Unfortunately, we all know that obesity and other health issues are often associated (cause?) with sleep apnea.

Unless you controll for these variables, these types of studies are only rought indicators and may not be all that accurate for the cause - yes they did seem to die earlier, but that is not proof that sleep apnea was the reason. It is the same problem that causes conflicting results with other similar epidemiology studies - i.e. coffee is bad for you, wait no coffee is good for you.....

That would explain why controlling sleep apnea may not have helped as much as we would think (in this small group!) . Their other health problems could have been the cause

Bottom line: controll your other health risks such as high BP, high blood lipids, cardiac arrhythmias, diabetes, lower weight a bit if possible, etc, and continue your cpap to best extend both the quality and length of your life.

[le_wif]

My first thought when reading that treatment MIGHT decrease the risk is "duh, ya think?" Left untreated, there are many conditions that will prove fatal. It stands to reason that people with untreated diabetes/heart conditions/you name it have a higher risk of death than those who have those conditions and treat them. Wasn't there actually an article posted here awhile back that talked about a study that showed that treatment actually reverses some of the damage done by apnea? I guess they could only "hint" that treatment might help because they hadn't proved it yet.

I'll be waiting for the next study that says that the risk is all but eliminated by treatment--unless you're so far gone due to many, many years of non treatment and other health issues. I can't see why treatment wouldn't greatly reduce or even eliminate this risk. On the positive side, having someone come out and publish data that proves that SA is a serious condition might encourage those who have it to seek treatment.

Le Wif, unsure why the tone of the article ticked me off, but it did. Oh well.