Can CPAP cause atrophy?

[Lizistired]

...I suspect that weight may often be a convenient whipping boy for apnea, too. Doctors love to blame your health problems on bad patient behavior. If you're fat, every problem you have is caused by you being a lazy fat slob. Or diabetic, not having regular checkups, etc.

Like smoking.

[chunkyfrog]

I would have to concur that the relationship between apnea and weight is not always one-to-one.
Other factors are very much in play. I only lost 8 pounds on CPAP therapy alone.
In order to lose additional weight, I have had to change my behavior drastically--not always an easy chore.
My old diet was heavily dependent on simple carbohydrates; a 'nutrient' that my diabetic system is unable to handle properly.
I am still working on shopping, cooking, and eating differently than ever before.
I have to place a high priority on getting in my walking every day--no matter how I feel.
My strength and stamina have improved vastly because of both adequate oxygen in my system and a better lifestyle.
I have to add that the last part would not have been possible without cpap, which gave me the energy to take on this challenge.
I pray for similar success for others.

[archangle]

...I suspect that weight may often be a convenient whipping boy for apnea, too. Doctors love to blame your health problems on bad patient behavior. If you're fat, every problem you have is caused by you being a lazy fat slob. Or diabetic, not having regular checkups, etc.

Like smoking.

As bad as smoking is, I'm sure a lot of smokers die unnecessarily because the doctors don't look for the real cause of the patient's symptoms and simply blame it on smoking.

[Janknitz]

A corrollary is that if you are a woman over 40 or so, everything is blamed on perimenopause or menopause. I was told my night sweats and insomnia were perimenopausal for more than 10 years. Funny thing is that they stopped when I started using CPAP. Presumably I'm even closer to menopause now (I sure hope so!!!!) but my "perimenopause" seems to have gone away

In medical school, doctors are taught "when you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras". Well, sometimes they need to think zebras afterall! (Or at least maybe jackasses--er, donkeys)

[archangle]

A corrollary is that if you are a woman over 40 or so, everything is blamed on perimenopause or menopause. I was told my night sweats and insomnia were perimenopausal for more than 10 years. Funny thing is that they stopped when I started using CPAP. Presumably I'm even closer to menopause now (I sure hope so!!!!) but my "perimenopause" seems to have gone away

Maybe CPAP reverses menopause.

[Pugsy]

Maybe CPAP reverses menopause.

I wish...but other than perhaps make it more bearable and maybe better oxygenated blood might help with some of the female atrophy...I doubt it makes the ovaries go back to work.

[ameriken]

I don't see how cpap can cause atrophy because your lungs are still doing the work. When you have OSA your lungs are trying to get air but the blockage is what causes the apnea, it is not the failure of the lungs. So the basic concept of cpap is not to make the lungs function, but to keep the airway open so your lungs can continue to work normally on their own. So CPAP actually allows your lungs to work like normal without interruption, so I don't see how it can cause atrophy or dependency.

[davelikesbeer]

I don't see how cpap can cause atrophy because your lungs are still doing the work. When you have OSA your lungs are trying to get air but the blockage is what causes the apnea, it is not the failure of the lungs. So the basic concept of cpap is not to make the lungs function, but to keep the airway open so your lungs can continue to work normally on their own. So CPAP actually allows your lungs to work like normal without interruption, so I don't see how it can cause atrophy or dependency.

Never mentioned lungs. I specifically mentioned the muscles surrounding your airways. When you are awake, do you have OSA? Your muscles are holding your passageways open. When you sleep, those muscles relax and collapse.

It would be nice if there were some exercise one could do to strengthen those muscles to keep them open during sleep.

[BlackSpinner]

Never mentioned lungs. I specifically mentioned the muscles surrounding your airways. When you are awake, do you have OSA? Your muscles are holding your passageways open. When you sleep, those muscles relax and collapse.

It would be nice if there were some exercise one could do to strengthen those muscles to keep them open during sleep.

Playing a didgeridoo is supposed to do that.

[moresleep]

...

It would be nice if there were some exercise one could do to strengthen those muscles to keep them open during sleep.

Some people believe playing the digeridoo will do exactly that, check out http://sleepdisorders.about.com/od/slee ... eridoo.htm. I'm sure it does no harm, so long as you keep using the Cpap

[ameriken]

I don't see how cpap can cause atrophy because your lungs are still doing the work. When you have OSA your lungs are trying to get air but the blockage is what causes the apnea, it is not the failure of the lungs. So the basic concept of cpap is not to make the lungs function, but to keep the airway open so your lungs can continue to work normally on their own. So CPAP actually allows your lungs to work like normal without interruption, so I don't see how it can cause atrophy or dependency.

Never mentioned lungs. I specifically mentioned the muscles surrounding your airways. When you are awake, do you have OSA? Your muscles are holding your passageways open. When you sleep, those muscles relax and collapse.

It would be nice if there were some exercise one could do to strengthen those muscles to keep them open during sleep.

True, I'm not sure how I transitioned from airway to lungs. Guess I'm still foggy brained.

[Pugsy]

It would be nice if there were some exercise one could do to strengthen those muscles to keep them open during sleep.

Oh but there are. We just don't have any way to prove how effective they might be.
http://sleepdisorders.about.com/od/slee ... eridoo.htm
http://www.laoutback.com/Didgeridoo_and ... 2god5ngY6g
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 094017.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didgeridoo

Google didgeridoo and sleep apnea for tons of reading.

oops I see others mention the didgeridoo, oh well I did the work to figure out how to spell it so I will let my post stand.

[Janknitz]

There are studies showing two types of exercises MAY be helpful:
1) Learning to play the digeridoo, which requires "circular breathing"
2) Buteyko breathing exercises

Each is worth a shot if you really want to try to get off CPAP, but you should not discontinue CPAP without a confirming PSG that shows your AHI is low enough that CPAP is no longer necessary, AND you should have periodic re-evaluations in case you slack off of these exercises.

We've seen people here claim that they were "cured" of sleep apnea by these exercises, but when challenged to get a confirming PSG and post it, nobody did.

Same issue with weight loss, you not only have to lose weight and then see if it REALLY means you no longer need CPAP, you have to keep that weight off or you could be right back where you started. Losing weight is one thing, keeping it off is quite another!

[BlackSpinner]

Of course you have to dedicate several hours a day to the practice to make it have an effect.

Your neighbours might not be thrilled at the idea.

I prefer to sleep with a mask it doesn't take any time away from my day and it doesn't upset the dog and neighbours.

[moresleep]

Where can I buy a digeridoo? I think it might be fun to play one and annoy the neighbors