CPAP improved my cholesterol levels?

[tattooyu]

Hi everyone. I have been on therapy now for almost six months. Prior to that my last blood work was drawn in November 2008. My cholesterol levels then were as follows.

HDL - 34
LDL - 147
Triglycerides - 129
Total - 207
Ratio - 6.0


Recently, I had an ultrasound and blood work to try and diagnose some 2007 gallbladder surgery (2007) problems. Both came up clear. My new cholesterol levels are below.

HDL - 34
LDL - 91
Triglycerides - 133
Total - 152
Ratio (Total:HDL) - 4.5

This is the first time that my total cholesterol, LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and ratio have EVER been in the normal range. I have made minor changes to diet (cutting out some gluten); exercise is the same. The only appreciable factor is my apnea therapy. I'd still like to work to get my HDL over 40, but I'm not sure how to do that.

[Muse-Inc]

...like to work to get my HDL over 40, but I'm not sure how to do that...

Regular exercise of any variety increases it. Some supplements do this to..will post when I remember which ones

EDIT: oh yeah, eating low carb lowers TC & triglycerides & LDL and raises HDL. Thsi first 2 wks, they go in the 'wrong' direction as the body enzymes are switched from burning sugar ('rocket fuel') to burning eaten and stored fat ('gasoline').

[tattooyu]

Good old exercise huh? I'm on it!

Edit: Magnesium citrate is a laxative. That really is the last thing I need for my gut.

[junie]

Wow that is real good news, my exercise is prunes.

[Muse-Inc]

...Magnesium citrate is a laxative...

Magnesium oxide is a laxative; it's the only form of magnesim that is strictly a laxative and useless as it's not absorbed. The citrate form is not a laxative and is considered to be the most absorbable, taurate's probably the best but it's the most expensive too .

[tattooyu]

Thanks Muse-Inc!

I don't always believe Wikipedia but read the first sentence...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium_citrate

[Muse-Inc]

Love the avatar images..always makes me chuckle! Still think carbonman should get some t-shirts made with one of those images and some slogan like
I survived sleeping..ask me how
Sleep Study Survivor
Hoseheads R Us
Sleep Study Graduate
cpaptalk.com...saving one life at a time
xPAP does a body good
Apnea...a body does what a body does, we CAN survive it
Apnea...not just for fat old men

But then I gotta admit my sense of humor can turn strange sometimes

[Uncle_Bob]

Nice one Kenny,

Funny you should post this as today i've just been to the lab for blood work. I'm having my cholesterol tested, my last total before cpap was 160 and at the time I was really working on lowering it to qualify for the best rates on term life insurance. Well now i am on CPAP my rates have gone through the roof but it will be interesting to see what my results will be this time.

The doc is also testing for thyroid and glucose as i tend to get the shakes and anxiety when i get hungry.

Lets hope my numbers go down too.

[tattooyu]

Nice one Kenny,

Funny you should post this as today i've just been to the lab for blood work. I'm having my cholesterol tested, my last total before cpap was 160 and at the time I was really working on lowering it to qualify for the best rates on term life insurance. Well now i am on CPAP my rates have gone through the roof but it will be interesting to see what my results will be this time.

The doc is also testing for thyroid and glucose as i tend to get the shakes and anxiety when i get hungry.

Lets hope my numbers go down too.

Uncle Bob, did you mean your total cholesterol was 160 or your LDL ("bad" cholesterol)? A total cholesterol of 160 is fine.

[Uncle_Bob]

Nice one Kenny,

Funny you should post this as today i've just been to the lab for blood work. I'm having my cholesterol tested, my last total before cpap was 160 and at the time I was really working on lowering it to qualify for the best rates on term life insurance. Well now i am on CPAP my rates have gone through the roof but it will be interesting to see what my results will be this time.

The doc is also testing for thyroid and glucose as i tend to get the shakes and anxiety when i get hungry.

Lets hope my numbers go down too.

Uncle Bob, did you mean your total cholesterol was 160 or your LDL ("bad" cholesterol)? A total cholesterol of 160 is fine.

Sorry, typo, my total was 260 not 160

[tattooyu]

Big difference!

Do you happen to know the breakdown (LDL, HDL and Triglycerides)?

[Uncle_Bob]

Big difference!

Do you happen to know the breakdown (LDL, HDL and Triglycerides)?

No i don't keep a running count of those, its really hard to get them all the time as i get my results over the phone and the lady always gets really short with me when i ask for the breakdown. When i ask for my results she gives me the total and then just states if the doc wants to see me or just come back in 3 months for a repeat check.

[tattooyu]

Come on now, Bob. I know you're active in your CPAP therapy... you gotta be persistent with those folks! LOL.

I always have them fax me the lab report to my work (I don't have a fax machine at home) so I can keep it in my medical records file. Ask them and see if they'll do that.

[BlackSpinner]

When i ask for my results she gives me the total and then just states if the doc wants to see me or just come back in 3 months for a repeat check.

At the prices you guys pay I would expect it to be over nite expressed while playing the star spangled banner.

[Mike_Snodgrass]

I like this topic. My cholesterol is high too but had read that apnea might be a cause. I'll go next week and get a reading now (I just started CPAP 3 weeks ago) and then test the results in 6 months. Thanks for sharing the before and after results!!