CPAP and Cholesterol

Rich · Post by **Rich** » Thu May 11, 2006 7:37 pm

Is there a link between using CPAP and better levels of cholesterol?

For no reason at all since I've been on CPAP (about 2 months) my total cholesterol decreased by 20 points and all the rest of my numbers went in the right directions.

Perhaps I'm barking up the wrong tree, but could there be a link between higher levels of oxygen leading to better cholesterol numbers? It can't be my diet!

Thanks-
Rich

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu May 11, 2006 7:50 pm

Yep there is a link:

Apnea treatment increases good cholesterol

There is proof that apnea is truly associated with the reduction in "good" cholesterol: the standard treatment used to control obstructive sleep apnea syndrome has a remarkable effect, according to the ERJ article. (This well-known treatment consists of blowing air into the patient's airways to stop them collapsing, and is hence known as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP).

For a sub-group of 127 patients who underwent six months of CPAP, the average level of good cholesterol rose from 46.9mg/dl to 49.6mg/dl, a rise of 5.8%. In parallel, there was a fall in levels of triglycerides (-8.6mg/dl), "bad" cholesterol (-5.5mg/dl) and total cholesterol (-3.4mg/dl), but not at a statistically significant level.

http://www.emaxhealth.com/107/4299.html

woozle · Post by **woozle** » Thu May 11, 2006 8:09 pm

Wow, great info, thanks! That makes me wonder as about 1 year ago I had really high tryglycerides - and was eating really well - but had to change my diet to reduce it as I didn't have enough energy to exercise - I will get them checked again in 2 months - wonder if it is due to better sleep and/or better sleep means more energy means more exercise means lower triglycerides - better cholesterol counts.

Gidgie · Post by **Gidgie** » Thu May 11, 2006 10:36 pm

My RT told me (since I have so many metabolism-related problems) to BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING.......because CPAP really alters your metabolism ......(hopefully in the right direction!)

jkeene · Post by **jkeene** » Fri May 12, 2006 7:20 am

Gidgie wrote:My RT told me ... to BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING.......because CPAP really alters your metabolism

That bears repeating. After four months on CPAP my total cholesterol dropped 17 points to an all-time low (155). But it dropped the HDL as well, so now the doc has me taking fish oil tablets to bring it back up. Within two weeks my blood pressure dropped twenty-four points, nicely down into the healthy range. Within a month my resting body temperature dropped so much I had to start sleeping under the sheets again. Normally I'd only be under the covers if the room temperature was in the lower sixties, now it's all the time.

No idea when the metabolism changes will stop, there seems to be something new almost every month. I've been on CPAP since the beginning of 2006.

Rich · Post by **Rich** » Fri May 12, 2006 8:08 am

Wow- when I posted this question I never thought the positives would be so extensive. The doctor who did my CPAP study told me it would change my life but I never dreamed it would be like this.

Fantastic!

I'd like to hear from more people, too - keeping it coming!

Thanks-
Rich

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Fri May 12, 2006 8:42 am

This is funny.

I've been on cpap for 3 years and my cholesterol keeps going up.

My doctor put me on fish oil tablets because he says it will lower my cholesterol.

Different strokes for different folks I guess.

tater pie · Post by **tater pie** » Fri May 12, 2006 9:10 am

Linda 3032, I know what you mean. I've been on cpap for 18 months and my cholesterol isn't getting any better either and I'm on a very strict diet. They just keep uping my cholesterol medicine. I guess maybe my cholesterol levels are linked more to heredity than what I eat. I still get night sweats too. I'm glad though a lot of people are getting such good results!

Rich · Post by **Rich** » Fri May 12, 2006 9:17 am

Are perimenipausal or anxious?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 12, 2006 9:53 am

Yes! Nightsweats, and perimenopausal and anxious. Got any suggestions? I've about had it.

Rich · Post by **Rich** » Fri May 12, 2006 10:33 am

Can you send me a private message?

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sat May 13, 2006 12:18 pm

[quote="Rich"]Can you send me a private message?

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Sat May 13, 2006 4:40 pm

[quote="Goofproof"][quote="Rich"]Can you send me a private message?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat May 13, 2006 5:15 pm

[quote="Rich"]Wow- when I posted this question I never thought the positives would be so extensive. The doctor who did my CPAP study told me it would change my life but I never dreamed it would be like this.

Fantastic!

I'd like to hear from more people, too - keeping it coming!

Thanks-
Rich

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Sat May 13, 2006 7:19 pm

I am amazed at the intertwining of maladys relative to sleep apnea!

I had been diagnosed with Clinical Depression at least 12 years ago. It was actually more than that, but difficult to explain. The first Prozac pill took care of the 'other things', and some of the depression. My PLMD got much worse after that = take clonazepam and Mirapex. My cholesterol is high, although probably heriditary, since diet made NO difference. I've had apnea for 35-40 years, although only recently diagnosed. I also have acid reflux. I have scoliosis, resulting in limited lung capacity. My oxygen levels are low, but not in the 'dangerous' zone, yet I don't like it.

It is difficult to know which came first, which is the agonist, etc. I do know that I am very exhausted, and extremely tired of the runaround I seem to be getting from the medical community; seems that no one wants to be responsible for taking the entire picture and dealing with it as a package. I have suicidal thoughts, re the most reliable and painless way to 'do it'. I have not gone beyond that, because my husband needs me.

I do have an appointment with a movement disorder neurologist in Philadelphia, who I plan on dumping everything onto his lap, and let him figure it all out. The PLMD is the most irritating. I'm having mood swings as of late, lose my temper easily, and have lost patience with inept people and those that read more into "only what is said".

I'd like to see a database of CPAP users who have any of the above problems, and find out how many of us have any of these in common.

So, there "I" am, for all to see. At least I have my sense of humor and enjoy the beauty of nature, and my gifts as a person. I get invaluable information from this forum, have met some great people, and at the same time am reminded of those "personalities" who read more into a statement, take what they want from it, twist it around, latch onto it, run with it, then suddenly we have a 5-page thread on a non-problem.

I now hesitate posting factual information or reference material, due to its being misunderstood, and those that are looking for controversy will certainly find fault with it.

..talk about 'dumping' ...well, those are the facts that I cannot change, only 'work on them'.

Sometimes I think that curiousity is what's keeping me going, but sometimes I just don't care anymore.

This is not meant to be a 'poor me', or anything like that, just a list of problems that I believe are interelated, and my frustrations.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP

CPAP and Cholesterol

CPAP and Cholesterol

Changes

Nightsweats?

Re: Changes