Can weight loss and smoking cessation "cure" some

[wahooker]

I've been on CPAP for about 2 years now. Since that time, I've upgraded from a cpap to an apap w/ card & software so that I can view my stats, etc.

Anyway, a couple months ago, I had a minor Heart Attack. Since that time, I have changed my health-related lifestyle quite a bit. Quit smoking, and am in the process of losing weight. (25 lbs so far, still losing a regular 1-3 lbs/week.)

Anyway, I know that Smoking and excess weight can be contributing factors to Sleep Apnea. Has anyone ever been able to come off of CPAP altogether after radically changing their weight and/or stopping smoking? I plan to lose at least 50, probably closer to 75 more lbs.

What my thought was was that I could reset the low end pressure periodically on my APAP, to see if I can make due with less and less pressure. If it gets to the point where little or no pressure is needed to keep me from having events, try to come off the apap altogether.

Mind you, It's not a real issue for me to stay on it. I haven't had any problems with compliance since the first couple nights. If I still have Apnea that needs it, even minor apnea, I'm not going to go without treatment. But, are changes like this something that could potentially make my apnea go away?

[WearyOne]

Yes, losing weight COULD help one reduce or eliminate OSA. BUT, you cannot use your machine alone to decide you're okay without it. Once you get down to a lower pressure, see low or non-existent AHI on your software at the lower pressure and therefore think you may not need the machine anymore, you would need to verify that with a new sleep study. You can't go by how you feel or by apap numbers to know for sure you don't have OSA anymore.

Yes, I have known a few people who have lost weight and been declared by a sleep study not to have OSA anymore. I also know people who are very thin and have severe OSA.

Pam

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