I was diagnosed at age of 45 with OSA in February 2005 and been on CPAP since that time.  It's been a struggle but I've gotten to the point where I don't mind wearing my CPAP mask.  CPAP has helped me and I sleep much better.  I thought I had come to terms with my diagnosis of OSA and was optimistic that, inspite of my condition, I could live a long and happy life--me and my CPAP together forever.  

I recently read a report about OSA and the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and I've become really depressed.  Mike, from this board, was kind enough to point out that the report wasn't intended to evaluate the therapeutic value of CPAP but the report has still been stuck in my craw.  Part of me says why bother wearing the CPAP.  Part of my frustration lies in the fact that my doctor said that I would probably have OSA even if I lost 15 pounds (I'm a little overweight) because of my facial structure (yes folks, I have no chin).  I'm just frustrated and nervous.  

Can one be on CPAP and be healthy?  Or does the CPAP just delay the inevitiable--shortened life expectancy because of OSA?


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Diagnosed with OSA in Feb. 2005. Live and work in Boston, MA.

You mean there's still risk fo cardiovascular disease even if the person is CPAP-compliant?  I thought eliminating apneas with CPAP got rid of the OSA-related risks...

NO, NO, NO You Have It Wrong!!!!

This study DID NOT say that CPAP treated apnea would still lead to cardiovascular disease.  Here is my previous response to this post:

The first study involved using CPAP to treat people who were diagnosed with both heart failure and central (not obstructive) sleep apnea prior to CPAP therapy.  As quoted in the article:

"Because of limited effectiveness of the treatment, the study points to a need to "rethink what we are treating and how we are treating it," he says, adding that the CPAP device was intended to treat obstructive sleep apnea, not central sleep apnea. "This suggests we need to find better treatments and devices for central sleep apnea."

The people they were treating with CPAP already had heart failure before CPAP therapy.  Additionally, they were treating central sleep apnea, not obstructive sleep apnea!!!  I'm moving that post because it has caused too much confusion.

There, I hope everyone sleeps better now!!!

Vicki


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That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

for what its worth, my sleep doc says people with untreated sleep apnea often have heart trouble from the extra strain it places on the heart

GerryF wrote:

I was diagnosed at age of 45 with OSA in February 2005 and been on CPAP since that time.  It's been a struggle but I've gotten to the point where I don't mind wearing my CPAP mask.  CPAP has helped me and I sleep much better.  I thought I had come to terms with my diagnosis of OSA and was optimistic that, inspite of my condition, I could live a long and happy life--me and my CPAP together forever.  

I recently read a report about OSA and the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and I've become really depressed.  Mike, from this board, was kind enough to point out that the report wasn't intended to evaluate the therapeutic value of CPAP but the report has still been stuck in my craw.  Part of me says why bother wearing the CPAP.  Part of my frustration lies in the fact that my doctor said that I would probably have OSA even if I lost 15 pounds (I'm a little overweight) because of my facial structure (yes folks, I have no chin).  I'm just frustrated and nervous.  

Can one be on CPAP and be healthy?  Or does the CPAP just delay the inevitiable--shortened life expectancy because of OSA?

Gerry,

I think you must be having an apnoea moment  (LOL).

Below is the text of a recent report from a 7.5 year study carried out in St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. Prof. McNicholas has been running the sleep clinic there since 1985.

If anything cpap PROTECTS you against cardiac problems. Another study (some years back) indicated that hypertension sufferers (with OSA) who were compliant with cpap, on average showed a reduction of up to 25% in their readings and that they were 33% less likely to have a stroke.

The increased risk is to those who have OSA and are undiagnosed and are not on cpap.

So in answer to your questions..........YES you can be healthy on cpap, in fact very healthy and YES it will prolong your life.....so cheer up and stay on cpap.

Kind regards,

Daniel.


Sleep Therapy May Protect Against Death from Heart Disease

NORTHBROOK, IL -- June 17, 2005 -- A common sleep therapy used to treat patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may actually have a protective effect against death related to cardiovascular disease.

In a new study published in the June issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians, patients with OSA who were treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) had significantly fewer cardiovascular disease-related deaths and cardiovascular-related events than untreated patients.

"Research has shown that patients with OSA have an increased incidence of death or events related to cardiovascular disease, particularly hypertension," said Walter McNicholas, MD, FCCP, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. "Short-term use of CPAP therapy has resulted in health and quality-of-life benefits in patients with sleep apnea, including improved daytime alertness and mental functioning. Extended CPAP therapy may have additional benefits for patients with OSA by protecting them against cardiovascular disease related to the sleep disorder."

Researchers from St. Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin followed 168 patients with OSA for an average of 7.5 years to monitor the long-term effect of CPAP therapy on cardiovascular disease.

Researchers compared the number of cardiovascular-related events and deaths between 107 patients who used CPAP therapy and 61 patients who never tolerated or stopped CPAP therapy for at least five years. During the follow-up period, there was a significant excess of cardiovascular deaths among the untreated patients (14.8%), compared to CPAP group (1.9%).

The total number of cardiovascular events, including death, congestive heart failure, hypertension, and stroke, also was significantly greater in the untreated group (31%), compared to the CPAP group (18%). There were no significant differences between the CPAP group and the untreated group in terms of age, body mass index, and cardiovascular risk factors at baseline; however, patients in the untreated group had significantly lower apnea scores and more had undergone nasal surgery prior to diagnosis of OSA.

"The association between OSA and cardiovascular disease is not fully understood. It is possible that the constant fluctuation in blood oxygen levels caused by OSA may contribute to arterial inflammation, blood flow obstruction, and, eventually, increased hypertension and cardiovascular-related events," said Dr. McNicholas. "Through the long-term relief of OSA, patients may decrease the subtle physical effects of OSA, thereby decreasing the overall incidence of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality."

"Sleep apnea is associated with several modifiable risk factors, including obesity, smoking, and excessive alcohol use," said Paul A. Kvale, MD, FCCP, President of the American College of Chest Physicians. "Although it is important to manage OSA through treatments, such as CPAP, physicians and patients must take steps to identify and modify risk factors that may be contributing to the disorder."


SOURCE: American College of Chest Physicians


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The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

Imagine that you have been a smoker for 50 years then you stop.  Can you get lung cancer now that you stopped?  Sure you can and stopping after 50 years reduces the chance, but whatever damage you did for 50 years is not undone just by stopping.  Not all the damage that can occur from prolonged effects of sleep apnea are not going to be undone from starting therapy, BUT you will stop doing MORE damage.  If you use the why bother logic, why treat any ailment?  If I have been overweight for 40 years why lose weight?  If I had high blood pressure for 40 years why bother getting treated?  The reason that we treat these ailments is that we stop the damage that is occurring and reduce our health risks.  By not getting treatment you are doing nothing to stop the damage and upping your risk for heart attack, stroke etc.  
 
Additionally, if you have a family history of high bp and strokes, just using CPAP is not going to reduce the risk, its only going to reduce the increased risk.
 
BTW, the numbers for stroke are about 1 in 100 for the normal population, with the study they found that it was closer to 3 out of 100 for people with Apnea.  So instead of saying you have a 3% chance, it sounds much scarier saying you have 3 times the chance...  
 
So the long and the short of this.  Could you get a stroke?  Yup.  You could get hit by a bus too, but if you stop walking out in front of buses, the chance is greatly reduced.

All,
Thanks for taking the time to post your comments.  Guess I was having a bad day and brought it onto the board.  Looking forward to future conversations with you.


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Diagnosed with OSA in Feb. 2005. Live and work in Boston, MA.

GerryF wrote:

All,
Thanks for taking the time to post your comments.  Guess I was having a bad day and brought it onto the board.  Looking forward to future conversations with you.

No worries!  

Just remember that treating your sleep apnea WILL help keep you healthy!