CPAP helps heart, right?

[san_fran_gal]

Of course everyone knows OSA is bad for the cardiovascular system. But have there been good studies that show that CPAP therapy actually decreases heart problems or all the other health issues that go along with apnea? (Besides fatigue and accidents, of course.) I guess Snoredog's untimely death got me thinking about this. Sorry if this is a stupid question, but a quick Google search didn't reveal a whole lot. I did find this, which seems to be on the right track: http://erj.ersjournals.com/cgi/content/ ... /32/4/1009

[rested gal]

CPAP helps heart, right? (your topic title)

Yes.

There can always be so much damage inflicted before "cpap" treatment was started, that bad things can still happen. Effective CPAP treatment started at any point, however, can help a person live longer than they would have without it. Good CPAP treatment can help the body repair some kinds of damage, but there can always be some things that just can't be undone.

[Julie]

And Snoredog did have a lot of existing damage from his pre-Cpap days. Really miss his knowledge here!

[kteague]

Several years ago my echocardiogram showed I had some thickening of the heart wall and was given a diagnosis of cardiomegaly. Last year another echo showed no thickening. I always thought any enlargement of the heart was irreversible, but discussion on here a couple years ago (couldn't find the thread) differentiated in causes, type, and degree of enlargement as mitigating factors.

Heart attacks are another matter. CPAP can reduce hypertension and stress on the heart, things that can lead to an enlarged or poorly functioning heart. Someone on here described an apnea event's effect on the heart as when the lungs can't get the oxygen the brain and body need, the heart pumps harder trying to compensate. The heart is a muscle too and was designed to be in a state of lower activity during sleep. Untreated apnea causes it to never get to rest. Not good.

But genetics, blocked arteries, blood that clots too readily, malfuntioning valves and other problems cannot be fixed by CPAP. Less stressed, but not fixed. It's dawned on me in recent months thru others' experiences that using CPAP has been like a security blanket for me, but it some ways it has been a false sense of security. Still gotta take care of everything else.

Kathy

[tdm5032c]

That's exactly what my doctor said. I have several heart problems that are going to require surgery here VERY soon and I asked him if I should stay on the CPAP until the surgery. He told me absolutely. It only helps the heart and lessens the load on it when you are getting the proper amount of sleep and oxygen. It doesn't have to work as hard. Makes sense to me. I'm going to miss my machine in the hospital though, lol.

[ozij]

You should only be without your machine if you're on a hospital breathing machine (ventilators have cpap mode). However, one can assume you'll spend time in the hospital no longer near their machines - and in need of your own.
The suplemental oxygen you'll be getting oxygen in the beginning is not enough -if your airway is obtructed, the oxygen won't get into your lungs.

Discuss your OSA with the anesthesiologist, cardiac surgeon, head nurse in the recovery room, ditto in the depratment you'll be moved to. Make very very sure that you know what they are planning to to do to keep your airway from collapsing - after you are no longer intubated.

Good luck in your surgery when the time comes!
O.

[Kiralynx]

I'm going to miss my machine in the hospital though, lol.

You should absolutely have your machine in the hospital. See this thread, here:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=36909&p=321190#p321190

[6PtStar]

I just went through a heart attack, open heart surgery and a pacemaker in September but for some unknown reason I survived. Heart attack came in the mornimg hours while wearing my cpap. EMT's had to take my mask off. Yes, most of it was damage for the years I had OSA and did not know it. Been on cpap 2 years as of December 14. I did not have to do without my cpap!! As soon as the breathing tube came out my wife was sent home to get my cpap and I used it. They sent a pulmanoligest by to check on me to make sure my wife set my machine up correctly. The only requirement was that I could not wear a full face mask even if I mouth leaked. Which did not effect me because I use the NAII. I had one nurse that gave me some flack over it but that got resolved very quickly.

Take your cpap to the hospital with you, you will need it!!!

Jerry

[DreamStalker]

Gald you're doing better Jerry.

What kind of flack would a nurse give you over the NAII?

Take care of yourself.

[6PtStar]

Gald you're doing better Jerry.

What kind of flack would a nurse give you over the NAII?

Take care of yourself.

I really am doing better. Really feel good but my stamina is still down a bit. Most of the pain is gone so I can sleep on my side again and my AHI is comming back down. Blood pressure has not been this good in years. I can almost keep up with these young whipper snappers again.

Nurse did not give me flack over the NAII, over cpap in general. She accused my wife of being compulsive over the cpap and did not want me to use it only when I went to sleep at night. My wife would put it on me every time I dozed off which was alot of the time right at first. After a complaint to the doctor, we heard no more from her.

Jerry

[GuyK]

Day 1, when I received my machine, my R/T told me to put on the mask any time I'm sleeping.

"Even when I take an afternoon nap?" asks I.

"Yes, of course, any time you sleep," says he.

After having read this forum for awhile, I understand why. Even common sense-wise, I understand why.

A funny thing, though. Since starting therapy, I haven't had so much interest in napping. Once, when I slept only a few hours the night before, I took an afternoon nap. I used the machine, and I was pretty refreshed after 45 minutes (I had been thinking it might take a couple of hours, but I woke up after a short time). I've dozed for 10 minutes a couple of times, while sort of sitting up. But the "urge to nap" has slowly been banished. Not a bad feeling to have.

[rested gal]

Day 1, when I received my machine, my R/T told me to put on the mask any time I'm sleeping.

"Even when I take an afternoon nap?" asks I.

"Yes, of course, any time you sleep," says he.

After having read this forum for awhile, I understand why. Even common sense-wise, I understand why.

Smart RT. Glad to hear that he said that.

And sorry to hear one of the nurses was so ignorant about sleep disordered breathing and cpap, Jerry.

Nurse did not give me flack over the NAII, over cpap in general. She accused my wife of being compulsive over the cpap and did not want me to use it only when I went to sleep at night. My wife would put it on me every time I dozed off which was alot of the time right at first. After a complaint to the doctor, we heard no more from her.

Jerry

Good thing that your wife knew what to do and why it is important!

[Fredman]

I have also read that CPAP does help repair some damage to the heart, and wish I could find the article that talked about how much CPAP assisted in heart surgery recovery versus non-cpap users.

I wear a medic alert necklace that on the back shows that use an Auto CPAP for Sleep Apnea along with my other conditions. That way in case of a medical emergency where I can't speak for myself and no loved ones around, the necklace can advise medical authorities of my SA.

6PtStar, you have a wonderful wife. Good to hear that you are on the mend. It is encouraging to hear how folks health is being positively impacted by good CPAP therapy

[Engransan]

I just had bypass surgery Oct. 28 due to my genetics and my long term neglect of my OSA. Although I followed the suggestions of this forum and notified everyone of my OSA I still had difficulty using my Resmed S8 Autoset II with supplemental oxygen.To insert the Oxygen requires an adapter for my hose which I didn't have. It took a couple of days for them to locate one. My machine also didn't respond well to the added pressure of the oxygen. Probably because I had the Exhaust Pressure Relief activated. Since I was too ill to help resolve the problem and They had no one who seemed to know I did without until I no longer needed the O2.
Engransan

[ozij]

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/O2-Enr ... apter.html

And
A pressure valve, sold by cpap.com too.

The Pressure Valve is a spring-loaded valve that helps prevent the back flow of oxygen (O2) or water from the patient circuit in to the BiPAP or CPAP machine when the machine is turned off. Any back flow passes out of the circuit through the vents. When the BiPAP or CPAP machine is operating, the valve allows air to flow through the patient circuit. The vents are sealed to prevent flow out of the circuit.

Water back flowing into a BiPAP or CPAP can cause permanent damage to the machine, while the back flow of oxygen can be a fire hazard.

The Pressure Valve is designed for single patient use on nearly all BiPAP and CPAP machines though for a machine with an integrated humidifier the primary function would only be to prevent oxygen back flow since it could only be located after the humidifier.

Product Features:
Minimum operating pressure is 2 cm H2O.
Inlet and outlet connector are 22 mm compatible with almost all BiPAP and CPAP machines.
Can be used inline with a bacteria filter.