A recent study shows CPAP, a common treatment for sleep apnea, brings longer life for those who suffer from chronic sleep apnea. The study shows the benefits of CPAP were tied to a whopping 62% decline in the odds of death over 11 years of follow-up.
CPAP not only helps relieve sleep apnea symptoms but also reduces the risk of heart failure and increases life expectancy.
It can lead to a variety of health issues and drastically reduce life expectancy if not managed properly. Studies show that patients who develop sleep apnea before the age of fifty have a life expectancy between 8 and 18 years.
Addressing sleep apnea with a CPAP machine could potentially save you from conditions that are more serious in the future and improve your overall quality of life with better sleep.
A CPAP machine uses a hose connected to a mask or nosepiece to deliver constant and steady air pressure to help you breathe while you sleep. Common problems with CPAP include a leaky mask, trouble falling asleep, a stuffy nose and a dry mouth.
Researchers took 20 adults with obstructive sleep apnoea and photographed them before and after 2 months of consistent CPAP use. When looking at the two photos in random order, raters consistently identified the post-treatment photo as more attractive, youthful and alert.
A lack of oxygen also greatly increases your chances of suffering a heart attack, and nearly 80% of all nocturnal strokes can be directly attributed to OSA. If left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can shorten your life from anywhere between 12-15 years.
Sleep apnea can shorten your lifespan, so it's important to have it diagnosed and treated as soon as you experience symptoms.
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common disorder that has all the characteristics of a chronic condition. As with other chronic conditions, OSA requires ongoing management of treatments and problems, such as residual symptoms, deficits and co-morbidities.
Across 789,260 patients initiated on CPAP (mean age, 55 ± 14 years; 58.2% male), overall adherence by US Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services criteria was 72.6%, but it varied dramatically by age and sex, ranging from 51.3% in 18- to 30-year-old women to 80.6% in 71- to 80-year-old men.
Unfortunately, we can't really call sleep apnea treatments like positive airway pressure (PAP) or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) sleep apnea cures. They usually work very well in eliminating sleep apnea symptoms, but they're a means of treating and living with the condition, not of getting rid of it.
Weight loss of just 10-15% can reduce the severity of OSA by 50% in moderately obese patients. Unfortunately, while weight loss can provide meaningful improvements in OSA, it usually does not lead to a complete cure, and many sleep apnea patients need additional therapies.
Lack of oxygen during sleep interferes with memory formation, blood pressure regulation, and weight control. Untreated apnea is associated with increased risk for dementia, stroke or heart attack. In one study, persons with sleep apnea had a 30 percent higher risk of heart attack or death than those without apnea.
There is good news. Upper airway stimulation therapy using a hypoglossal nerve stimulator is an option for people who are unable to tolerate their CPAPs. It's been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea is classified by severity: Severe obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is greater than 30 (more than 30 episodes per hour) Moderate obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is between 15 and 30. Mild obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is between 5 and 15.
In addition, your sleep apnea will change as the risk factors mentioned above change. For example, weight gain or getting older will worsen the condition, as will increased allergies in the spring, which will make nighttime breathing more difficult and exacerbate your symptoms.
When OSA is not treated, it can also interfere with the normal functions of the cardiovascular and nervous systems. This may provoke abnormalities in a person's heart rhythms and other problems that can cause sudden cardiac death.
According to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research, approximately 38,000 deaths occur on an annual basis that relate to cardiovascular problems that in one way, or another are connected to sleep apnea. These problems include high blood pressure and stroke, among others.
One study showed that 12 months of regular CPAP use reversed white-matter damage in people with severe OSA. Participants also showed improvements in mood, quality of life, and alertness after using a CPAP machine.
A CPAP machine is addictive.
While the machine itself is not addictive, patients become addicted to the results of regular CPAP use.
Even people with moderate or severe sleep apnea can find that they get worse sleep with CPAP than they did before they started using the machine. For most people with mild sleep apnea, CPAP is usually more trouble than it's worth. CPAP-related problems lead to more waking than sleep apnea ever did.
Those with the sleep disorder can have increased insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes, weight gain, and the body storing more fat, especially belly fat. Sleep apnea may cause metabolic dysfunction through a few different pathways.
First, the increased air pressure from the CPAP machine may make it more difficult for the body to expel air, leading to an increase in body mass. Second, CPAP therapy can cause less deep sleep, often linked to increases in body weight.
Fortunately yes, it does! Getting up and moving your body not only helps you look good and feel good, but regular, moderate exercise can support weight loss which may help treat or even prevent your sleep apnea symptoms. Physical activity and exercise isn't the only exercise that can help relieve sleep apnea symptoms.