Does aging usually mean needing more pressure?

I'm wondering if normal aging usually requires an increase in pressures?

It often does. But take heart. I've used xPAP for almost 20 years and my pressure now - even though I've gained a LOT of weight over the years - is almost identical to my original prescription.

I think it is not so much aging as trauma. The reason I ended up being diagnoses (and pushing for a sleep test) was that after a really bad flu I couldn't stay awake. It was like over the last 10 years every time I had a flu/cold like sickness my breathing ability took a nose dive.

Thanks John.
Black Spinner........wow! I was going to ask that question next. All my troubles seemed to start about 15 years ago when I had the flu and pneumonia.
Then I developed fibromyalgia and went through perimenopause (awful!). Even though I felt horrible in many ways for a very long time, I never got a cold for about 13 years. This January, I got a really bad one. My numbers just haven't been the same since. I'm trying to think of every possible reason for my cpap numbers taking a nosedive and having that cold is one possibility.
I don't feel any obvious congestion and I can breath okay, but my naso-pharynx always has alot of thick mucous in it now, and my soft palate/uvula also seems alot softer/weaker.
I turned 60 in January........so I was wondering about that too! I think my body's 'warranty has expired for sure. haha
I suppose it could be a combo of everything......the destruction from a bad cold, aging, a little weight gain, and who knows what else!
For almost 2 years I was at a pressure of 7.2 and my usual leak was below .10 l/s and my AHI was 4-5. Now my AHI is 9-11 and my leak rate is all over the place. I've actually been looking at some soft palate exercises on the internet. Maybe that would help. I'm slowly losing a little weight, which might help.
Anyhow......just trying to make sense of this decline.
Thanks!

Country4ever wrote:I'm wondering if normal aging usually requires an increase in pressures?

Your profile shows that you have an S8 Vantage......a data-capable machine. Are you finding that you're needing more pressure?

I don't think "age" would necessarily have that much effect on needed pressure. Some people find they need more pressure when they LOSE weight. But, this is one reason why having a data-capable machine (AND monitoring one's therapy) is so important. Statistically ("THEY" say), as people age, sleep apnea can be more prevalent, but I haven't seen any studies that address a "age vs. pressure increase" situation.


Den

Oh yes, I check my numbers every morning. That's how I know its not working like it used to. I've tried going up on the pressure, and all that does is increase the leak rate and doesn't seem to do much for the AHI..........but then you can't really trust the AHI if the leak rate is high.
Its just a very curious change since January, from what my numbers had been for the last 2 years.
I brought this up in another post..........I've been wearing an oral splint for TMJ since November and had been wondering if that was affecting my numbers.
I've been sleeping without it for about 4 nights now, and the first night was great.........AHI of 5 and low leaks. But its been going up since then with AHI of 11 last night (leak of .08....which is good). So apparently its not the splint...........BUT.........I can't rule out the change in my bite that the splint has made.
The purpose of this kind of splint is to lower your mandible and position it outward, in order to "unload" the TM joint and let it heal. So perhaps my bad numbers are from the actual change in my bite. My bite will eventually go back into place in several months, so I won't know until then if that's causing any problems.
I haven't felt as good since my numbers declined. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just highly suggestible and when I see bad numbers in the mornings, then I feel bad that day. haha
I'm trying to pick up on other signs too. Before cpap, I would get up to pee 3-4 times a night. I don't get up at all still, so that's sort of telling me that I'm still sleeping fairly well. I wake up more often during the night, but immediately go back to sleep. Don't you think these things are important indicators too, and not just the numbers?

Country4ever wrote: I brought this up in another post..........I've been wearing an oral splint for TMJ since November and had been wondering if that was affecting my numbers.
I've been sleeping without it for about 4 nights now, and the first night was great.........AHI of 5 and low leaks. But its been going up since then with AHI of 11 last night (leak of .08....which is good). So apparently its not the splint...........BUT.........I can't rule out the change in my bite that the splint has made.
The purpose of this kind of splint is to lower your mandible and position it outward, in order to "unload" the TM joint and let it heal. So perhaps my bad numbers are from the actual change in my bite. My bite will eventually go back into place in several months, so I won't know until then if that's causing any problems.
I haven't felt as good since my numbers declined. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just highly suggestible and when I see bad numbers in the mornings, then I feel bad that day. haha

I notice you use a nasal mask. With the bite plate is it possible that you are losing therapy through your mouth now? Your jaw may be closed but are your lips in the new position?
I would definitely increase my pressure and deal with the leaks. I know when I had a new pressure I had to readjust everything.

Hi Black Spinner,
I tape my mouth with blue painter's tape and it always seems to stay secure all night.

It is possible that your pressure needs change from day to day. It's also possible your pressure needs tend to go in waves / cycles. I seem to have it. The only way to know for certain is to monitor your data daily, record it, and graph it (if possible). We can often SEE patterns that are not obvious with just the numbers.

Good luck as you continue to try to figure out how to make this work as best as possible for you. I sure wish there were one set answer, but it takes lots of trial and error to find what works for you.

Thanks John.

Country4ever wrote:I'm wondering if normal aging usually requires an increase in pressures?

Along with all the other helpful posts, there is the likelihood that aging allows more hypopneas and centrals to creep in.
There is a natural slackening off of musculature as we age & you only have to ask yourself how fast and for how long
you can run at 65 compared to what you could do at 40 (allowing that you aren't a sports instructor ).

Having been on cpap from 60-65 my pressure requirements have probably gone down rather than up but that is more to
do with having lost weight & taken up daily cycling to keep fit & keep my breathing well exercised.

I was with my 89 yo father in law last week (he went into hospital) & it was pretty clear his respiration had
slowed down greatly. He has probably had Cheynes Stokes Respiration for some time & it was there to see
when we were with him. His heart was weak and so his circulation had slowed markedly. His doctor has
effectively kept him alive for the past 15 years whilst he has had a leaky heart valve. I used to take his
blood pressure which could read as 85/50 & I used to jokingly say to him how was it he was still standing.

So, as he aged he was more prone to centrals. Seems to me an inevitable process.

Cheers

DSM