CPAP Therapy is Good for the Heart!

[AshleyThompson]

Have you noticed CPAP therapy seems to be getting more buzz? From Regis to Oprah, more and more people are becoming aware of Sleep Apnea.

And that is great! But you know what is even better? The proliferation of medical research surfacing in regards to Sleep Apnea.

This Friday, CPAP.com will be featuring a Research Spotlight Newsletter discussing some high profile studies regarding the link between cardiovascular disease and OSA. The link between the two is serious, and scary, however there is some great research being generated indicating CPAP therapy has a positive effect on cardiovascular symptoms - like blood pressure and cholesterol! Research in this area has more cardiologists sending their patients to get sleep studies in hopes that CPAP therapy will help their symptoms.

Knowing CPAP therapy may help your cardiovascular symptoms, how does this impact your attitude towards your CPAP?

[wrenn]

I've been compliant for 3 years because I wake up feeling better when I use cpap but my numbers have not changed with regards to bp and chol.

[tonycog]

I went to the doctor in April thinking I had a cold - short of breath, no energy. It turns out that my heart went into atrial fibrillation. We got that taken care of by cardio-version (heart was shocked back into normal rhythm). My cardiologist arranged for me to see a sleep doctor, who arranged for my first sleep study. Turns out I do not have OSA, but rather Cheyne-Stokes respirations/ Central sleep apnea. I started on Bi-PAP therapy on June 2.

In July, A-Fib returned. After 10 days in continuous A-Fib, and after arranging to be cardioverted again, my heart converted back to normal rhythm on its own. My cardiologist told me that it is unusual for a patient who 1) previously needed to be shocked back into normal rhythm and 2) had been in A-Fib for 10 days to convert back on his own. He shrugged and said he couldn't really explain why I did. He believes that getting effective sleep therapy via Bi-PAP was very possibly a reason for my heart to begin to function more properly.

I'm still battling my heart problems 6 weeks later, but it is likely side-effects from anti-arrhythmic medication. I see the cardio-doc on Friday to discuss these side-effects and ask him about stopping medication since I am now getting effective sleep therapy (the side-effects are nearly as bad for me as A-Fib was).

Best wishes,
Tony

[RipVW]

Yes, it is so great that sleep apnea and CPAP are getting more press and helping all with awareness. There are SO many undiagnosed people, and who knows how many lives have been shortened by the destructive effects of untreated OSA.

[BleepingBeauty]

Have you noticed CPAP therapy seems to be getting more buzz? From Regis to Oprah, more and more people are becoming aware of Sleep Apnea.

Yes, and it's about time! I do what I can re: sleep apnea education on an individual basis*, but people with the power of an Oprah or a Regis can make a HUGE impact. I hear that sleep apnea will also be "featured" on The Biggest Loser this season, and I sure hope they make good use of the opportunity to educate the public further.

*I belong to a group of Red Hat ladies, and I co-hosted our get-together last month. I know of three in our group of 24 (including me) who have machines. As I talked about sleep apnea and the negative health effects it can be responsible for, I handed out copies of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Muffy's tips on sleep hygiene. We all have to do what we can, and educating just one person at a time is better than none.

Knowing CPAP therapy may help your cardiovascular symptoms, how does this impact your attitude towards your CPAP?

My attitude towards my machine has always been good - even when I wasn't getting effective therapy at the hands of my so-called sleep doctor. I know that whatever damage my undiagnosed sleep apnea was doing (to my heart, my brain, and every other organ) has been stopped in its tracks and can't progress any further due to lack of treatment.

Hopefully, with increased awareness of the problem, more people will be diagnosed at an earlier age, thereby preventing much of the damage that occurs before treatment begins.

[Muse-Inc]

...atrial fibrillation...I see the cardio-doc on Friday...

Tony, please ask your cardio about taking 400-800 mgs of magnesium citrate (do not take the oxide form as it's only use is as a laxative) each day. I've been taking 400 mgs since 2000 and 800 mgs/day for nearly a yr now. My cardio wants me to continue to take at least 400 mgs/day (slightly above RDI). We used to get plenty in our water but not now. Magnesium is used to regulate electical activity in our body...the heartbeat being the strongest electrical generator. It also helps the smooth muscle relax...our blood vessels, lining of the lungs, heart muscle to name a few. Involved in over 300 biochemical interactions, it is the second most used mineral in our body. Without adequate amts, we cannot create new bone tissue or create insulin. Many ERs routinely set up an IV of magnesium for patients in AF; if it's gonna work, it will within 60 secs of starting the drip, it's that powerful. You may need more than you are getting. Blood tests are notoriously poor at showing the form used within the cell. Worth investigating.

[tonycog]

Thank you. I will definitely ask him. I appreciate your help. Trying to learn about apnea, Bi-PAP, etc., is bad enough, but to also try to learn about A-Fib and all of its complications, while still fatigued and short-of-breath at times is a bit too much.

Thanks,
Tony

[Muse-Inc]

...I do what I can re: sleep apnea education on an individual basis...

Me too...glad I'm not the only one! Just had a 20 min chat with the gal behind the counter when I paid my Public Storage bill this morning. She's exhausted (looks it too), snores loudly, has morning headaches that do not respond to aspirin, pees at least 6-8 times/night, has high blood pressure...I did my thing urging her to discuss this with her doctor. Explained the consequences of untreated apnea (heart attack, brain damage, stroke) mentioning that the majority of those who develop apnea will go on to become diabetic within 5 yrs unless treated in time, that CPAP treatment works halting and in most cases reversing most of the damage. Told her to tell her doc this came from someone with severe apnea and into her 3rd yr of good therapy and told her not to take no for an answer. Said if she was lucky, she'll be able to use a minimal pillow mask. Then, ta da, told her to come here and educate herself so she gets the treatment she needs to improve her health, talk to her doc, deal with any treatment issues like mask fit, . The other gal there was taking it all in as she has several relatives who have the same set of symptoms -- told her to get them into their doctors offices to discuss the possibility of their having apnea.

...We all have to do what we can, and educating just one person at a time is better than none...

Hear, hear! It's up to us y'all 'cause too many docs are just not educated about apnea -- it's not just for fat old men...sorry guys but that's the stereotype and that's just sooooooo wrong.

[Muse-Inc]

Thank you....

You're welcome...we're all in this boat together!

...still...short-of-breath at times...

I haven't been able to stop the diuretic 'cause I still get edema in lower legs...very little now but still some, docs think it's due to my remaining excess wt. Because of this and chronic allergy-sinus issues, I hafta sleep propped up on pillows to reduce the flow of fluid into upper body when I lie down and making my airways narrower and increasing fluid in upper chest. I layer pillows, 2 (one in front of the other), then a folded big beach towel on top of the one furthest away and a skinny smaller pillow on the front one, then my contour pillow on top of the folded beach towel (makes a firm support). I lie so the one in front is at my waist. This allows me to sleep fairly comfortably on either side; back sleeping is out 'cause my apnea is much much worse on my back. I hate taking a diuretic...gotta drink 6 ozs of low-sodium V8 daily to make up for what's being pee'd away, I eat parsley with everything (more potassium which I can't seem to retain), and 3 horse-sized multis to compensate. Skip a day and I add 1.5#s of fluid; skip 3 days and I get short of breath, so can't stop...yet

[WhoKnew]

[quote="BleepingBeauty"][ I handed out copies of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Muffy's tips on sleep hygiene. We all have to do what we can, and educating just one person at a time is better than none.

I think I'll do just that at my quilting retreat in October. I know that 5 of us have machines, but I'll bet there are others who need them, or know someone who needs to be tested.

It's too bad that it takes a celebrity to make us aware of these conditions, but that's how it goes I guess. The little guy/gal just doesn't enter into the picture.

[Kiralynx]

I am strongly aware of the cardiovascular issues.

My grandmother snored like a house afire, and also had diverticulitis. She died from heart issues and from complications of the diverticulitis.

As of January, I have no sign of "the family disease" of diverticulitis thanks to my diet. As of April 2008, I did not yet have signs of heart issues.

My mother has congestive heart failure. She also has dementia. She has had hip and knee pain for many years, starting about the age I was when my hip and knee pain started. My mother is presently unable to walk, barely able to sit up. Her doctors thought my observations of her breathing patterns were nonsensical -- apnea could not not have anything to do with her problems.

I was diagnosed last year with apnea. My breathing issues are being addressed and my hip and knee pain is worlds better.

Seeing what happened to my grandmother, what is happening to my mother... I'm blasted glad I was diagnosed and have the right machine for me.

[drubin007]

one thing I thought of, and want to research further but have yet to do it...

has anyone researched if there is any correlation between osa and alzheimers?

It stands to reason with getting less oxygen the brain is going to suffer... I would be curious if any research has been completed in that arena, and what the results were...

something of concern to me of course, as that disease runs deep in my fathers side of the family.

[rested gal]

one thing I thought of, and want to research further but have yet to do it...

has anyone researched if there is any correlation between osa and alzheimers?

It stands to reason with getting less oxygen the brain is going to suffer... I would be curious if any research has been completed in that arena, and what the results were...

something of concern to me of course, as that disease runs deep in my fathers side of the family.

Here's a link Rooster posted once, to some comments along that line by Dr. Steven Park:

http://doctorstevenpark.com/can-sleep-a ... zheimers-2

[Demeter_Soul]

Well, my Sleep Apnea went undiagnosed for over ten years despite the fact that I told my doctors that my husband saw me stop breathing at night and the headaches I ONLY got when I slept were getting progressively worse and I was able to sleep less and less...and I finally slept sitting up at my kitchen table and my legs swelled with fluid, to the tune of me gaining 26 pounds in two weeks...and about a week later, on Easter (April 12th of this year), I was dying.
The docs found I had Congestive Heart Failure, COPD, and Diabetes, along with the progressive kidney disease I've had for years.
The doctors finally admitted there was a root cause for some of my problems...and I was tested for Sleep Apnea three days after my release from the hospital.
They now strongly feel that the CHF was caused by my untreated SA...and possibly the kidney disease was made worse, along with the diabetes, blah, blah...
*sigh*
If only one of my doctors hadn't put my headaches off as "stress-related" ... possibly caused by tensions of my days...or hormonal problems -- had listened to me about not breathing...
*sigh*
Anyway, I now find myself on oxygen 24/7, for the rest of my life...and on BiPap with oxygen fed in, which I consider the most important part of my treatment, believe it, or not.
I thank God for that little black box and that silly looking little mask.

[builta]

Why is this post "stuck" to the top of the list?