Tag Archive for: Sleep Apnea

It’s crazy to think how much more information exists now about sleep apnea than just 30 years ago.

About 30 years ago was when my dad had his first heart attack, related to high blood pressure.

A second heart attack brought home the severity of his condition, and while he was treated with medication, this was around the time that information was starting to make itself known in the medical industry regarding sleep apnea.

He had a home sleep test and it was determined he had severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). We now know about the direct link between high blood pressure and sleep apnea.

Thankfully, at the age of 82, my dad has not suffered any further heart attacks, and according to a recent visit with his cardiologist, things are under control.


What exactly is OSA?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a condition that affects one in twenty people in Quebec.

Unconscious breathing interruptions cause sufferers to experience drops in oxygen levels to the brain, which makes the body “wake up” in order to start breathing again. When this happens, the patient will have a sudden, snore-like deep inhalation, usually without achieving full wakefulness, and then settle back into a normal breathing pattern.

These disturbances can happen dozens of times per hour. While it normally doesn’t result in conscious awareness, it severely hampers normal, rejuvenating sleep and will leave the sufferer feeling tired the next day even if they had a full night in bed.

The health consequences of this can include grogginess, headaches, weight gain, low sex drive, memory problems and high blood pressure.

Diagram of the effects of sleep apnea


How common is high blood pressure?

According to a report released by Statistics Canada in February 2019, nearly one-quarter of Canadian men (24%) and women (23%) have hypertension. “Hypertension is the leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is the leading risk factor for death worldwide. ”1

Long established risk factors for high blood pressure include obesity, smoking, poor diet or a sedentary lifestyle. What’s less commonly known as a risk factor is OSA, but according to multiple studies there is a clear link between OSA and high blood pressure.

high blood pressure test


What’s the link between OSA and high blood pressure?

In an article published in the European Respiratory Journal, there is a clear link shown between OSA and hypertension.

Citing a study of over 12,000 patients, the author, R. Doug McEvoy, concludes that the results are, “clear cut and add to the growing body of evidence implicating OSA as a cause of hypertension”2.

McEvoy points out that OSA events cause blood pressure surges at night, but also result in changes to the body that increase blood pressure during the day.

guy snoring hbp


What can be done about it?

A key point in the StatsCan health report is that hypertension is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease: it can be combated.

Diet, exercise and quitting smoking are certainly important, but so is getting a good night’s sleep.

Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) therapy is the leading treatment for OSA.

According to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, “in patients with cardiovascular disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors, the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with CPAP… resulted in a significant reduction in blood pressure.”3

guy cpap


The first step is to get tested for sleep apnea.

If you have OSA symptoms and feel that your sleep is not restful, it’s important to talk to your doctor about it.

Apnea Health offers simple, fast and effective home testing. You can also contact us for a free evaluation to see if sleep testing is right for you.

Here’s a checklist to review with your doctor for signs of sleep apnea.

  • Loud snoring
  • Occasionally waking up during the night feeling that you’re choking or gasping
  • Restless sleep
  • Having a sore or dry throat in the morning
  • Having a headache in the morning
  • Sleepiness, low energy or fatigue during the day
  • Feeling sleepy behind the wheel
  • Weight gain
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Forgetfulness, mood changes, and a decreased interest in sex

a checklist


References:

  1. Health Reports: Blood pressure, hypertension and leading risk factors, Statscan
  2. R. Doug McEvoy, Obstructive sleep apnoea and hypertension: the ESADA study, European Respiratory Journal 2014 44: 835-83 ERS
  3. Gottlieb DJ, et al., CPAP versus oxygen in obstructive sleep apnea, N Engl J Med. 2014 Jun 12;370(24):2276-85 NCBI

A snoring partner can mean sleepless nights for both members of a couple – and that can lead to irritability and impatience the next morning.

After a long day you both feel even more tired, which is not a good start to a romantic evening. Even when the stars do align, sometimes the body isn’t willing!

What if you could get a good night’s sleep and overcome erectile dysfunction – without drugs?

If you are one of the many Canadians with sleep apnea, there is a trusted answer that can address these, and other, health issues. Read on to find out more!


What is sleep apnea?

If you feel tired and/or sleepy all the time, or if you’ve been told you snore or stop breathing during your sleep, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be the cause.

Here’s what happens:

  • The airway becomes blocked (obstructed) during sleep, which causes a pause in breathing.
  • When we stop breathing our oxygen levels drop, which triggers the brain to tell us to wake up and breathe. However, we don’t wake up completely (these sleep interruptions are called “micro-arousals”).
  • It’s these micro-arousals that disrupt our sleep architecture and cause us to wake up in the morning feeling as if we haven’t slept a wink.

Diagram of the effects of sleep apnea


How does sleep apnea cause snoring?

Snoring is the sound that is made when you try to breathe in while your airway is obstructed.

Some people with sleep apnea may make a choking or gasping sound, while others experience silent breathing pauses as they try to inhale.

The common factor is that oxygen isn’t getting through to the brain.

A couple lying in bed, facing away from eachother


Is sleep apnea coming between you and your partner?

For couples, the loud snoring and restless sleep caused by OSA can lead to less quality time in the bedroom.

This is because one partner suffers through the noise while the other remains restless all night long.

On top of that, studies have shown that sleep apnea can actually cause erectile dysfunction in men – and women with sleep apnea have lower libido, too!

Snoring man in bed with his angry partner


The proven link between sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction

Long before the “little blue pill” came along, researchers knew that sleep apnea could cause erectile dysfunction (ED).

Some scientists have reported decreased testosterone in men with sleep apnea, but other problems related to OSA (including depression and decreased alertness) may also play a role.

The connection has been known since 1977 – and the good news is, there’s a drug-free treatment that just might help.

tired man with wife


If I have OSA, are there other benefits of CPAP treatment?

The benefits of CPAP treatment go far beyond improving your love life.

According to Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler³, President of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (2017), “Obstructive sleep apnea is a destructive disease that can ruin your health and increase your risk of death,” creating health hazards that include high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Through treatment with CPAP, all of these hazards can be reduced. Now, that’s good news for you and your partner!

According to researchers, this might be your most effective pleasure-enhancing device!

Doctor using a blood pressure device on a patient


Treating sleep apnea can improve libido for women, too

We know that OSA can cause sexual difficulties for men – but sleep apnea can also be a turn-off for women! Fortunately, treatment with CPAP can help rekindle the flame. In a study published in 2018, the researchers reported that women using CPAP experienced a greater improvement in sexual quality of life compared to those who didn’t.² So if you’re a woman who snores, why wait to get tested? CPAP might spark a positive change in your bedroom habits!

Resmed AirSense 10 CPAP machine with slimline tubing


How CPAP treatment can tame OSA and improve your love life

The first step is to get tested for sleep apnea. If you have OSA symptoms and feel that your sleep is not restful, it’s important to talk to your doctor about it.

Apnée Santé offers simple, fast and effective home testing. You can also contact us for a free evaluation to see if sleep testing is right for you.

Here’s a checklist to review with your doctor for signs of sleep apnea.

  • Loud snoring
  • Occasionally waking up during the night feeling that you’re choking or gasping
  • Restless sleep
  • Having a sore or dry throat in the morning
  • Having a headache in the morning
  • Sleepiness, low energy or fatigue during the day
  • Feeling sleepy behind the wheel
  • Weight gain
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Forgetfulness, mood changes, and a decreased interest in sex

a checklist


Related links

  1. Taskin U, Yigit O, Acioglu E et al. Int J Impotence Res 2010;22:134-139.
  2. Jara SM, Hopp ML, Weaver EM. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2018;144(7):587-593.
  3. Accessed at https://aasm.org/brain-damage-caused-by-severe-sleep-apnea-is-reversible/ on Aug. 7, 2019

Have you ever noticed that when you are tired you eat more?

You may even feel ravenous and spend your day grazing the office freebies in the kitchenette. Your portions may be getting larger and the number of times you eat during the day may be increasing in an attempt to get more energy and combat fatigue.

Rest assured this is not your fault! It is not a lack of willpower. The answer may lie in your sleep and sleep apnea may be the culprit responsible for your weight gain.


Why do we pack on the pounds when we are sleep deprived?

When we’re sleep deprived, the hormones that control hunger and appetite start sending out faulty messages.

There are four hormones that control hunger and appetite:

  • Ghrelin tells the body to eat
  • Leptin tells it to stop eating
  • Cortisol makes us crave sugary foods when we’re stressed
  • Insulin stores calories

When we’re short on sleep, we produce more ghrelin (making us want to eat) and less leptin (the hormone that tells us to stop). On top of that, we produce more cortisol due to the stress caused by lack of sleep, so we crave sugary foods. And we produce extra insulin, which leads the body to store glucose in fat cells . . . so we gain weight.

It’s no wonder that as much as we might try, if we’re lacking sleep, we will invariably turn to food. We simply cannot combat the signals our bodies are sending us. Moreover, with an increasing amount of cortisol, we’re likely to give in to junk food cravings.

tired woman eating pizza on couch


Sleep apnea and weight gain: a vicious cycle

Here’s what happens:

  • In obstructive sleep apnea the airway becomes blocked (obstructed) during sleep, which causes a pause in breathing.
  • When we stop breathing our oxygen levels drop, which triggers the brain to tell us to wake up and breathe.
  • However, we don’t wake up completely (these sleep interruptions are called “micro-arousals”).
  • It’s these micro-arousals that disrupt our sleep architecture and cause us to wake up in the morning feeling as if we haven’t slept a wink.

Gaining weight can cause us to sleep less and sleeping less can make us eat more! This vicious cycle can turn into a nightmare.

But there is hope: The cycle can be broken, starting with a proper night’s sleep. And the good news is Apnea Health can help you achieve a good night’s rest.

A continual cycle that shows that sleep apnea leads to poor sleep which leads to increased hunger hormones which weight gain. After that, the process repeats.


How to break the cycle

The first step is to get tested for sleep apnea.

If you have OSA symptoms and feel that your sleep is not restful, it’s important to talk to your doctor about it.

Apnea Health offers simple, fast and effective home testing. You can also contact us for a free evaluation to see if sleep testing is right for you.

Here’s a checklist to review with your doctor for signs of sleep apnea.

  • Loud snoring
  • Occasionally waking up during the night feeling that you’re choking or gasping
  • Restless sleep
  • Having a sore or dry throat in the morning
  • Having a headache in the morning
  • Sleepiness, low energy or fatigue during the day
  • Feeling sleepy behind the wheel
  • Weight gain
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Forgetfulness, mood changes, and a decreased interest in sex

a checklist


Will CPAP treatment help with weight loss?

Yes! A three-month study of CPAP users published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed a marked reduction in body mass index, as well as a mild to moderate decrease in blood pressure and cholesterol levels 1.

That’s three good reasons for people with sleep apnea to use their CPAP device every night!

 

Airsense, Dreamstation and Sleepstyle CPAP machines

Check out our machines


Is it okay to stop CPAP treatment after losing weight?

Treating sleep apnea and restoring sleep will obviously have an impact on your health and weight. You’ll stop feeling drowsy and fatigued. You’ll want to be more active, and with your new energy you might take up exercise, which will support your weight loss. And, of course, your hunger hormones will work normally.

Still, even if you snore less and feel you no longer suffer from sleep apnea, you should never stop CPAP without checking with a sleep medicine specialist first. That’s because there is no 100% guarantee that your sleep apnea will be completely eliminated.

Although being overweight is a cause of sleep apnea, sometimes other factors are present too – such as ear, nose and throat abnormalities (including nasal obstruction, tonsillar hypertrophy, large tongue base, elongated uvula or palate), or facial abnormalities. If these factors are present, sleep apnea will not necessarily disappear with weight loss.

man holding cpap e1610479937791

 


So you’ve lost that extra weight. What next?

After you’ve lost weight, it’s a good idea to visit your sleep clinic. It’s possible that the pressure setting on your CPAP machine will need adjustment because your airway has become less restricted.

After that, start thinking about other healthy lifestyle changes! With cravings under control, you can take the time to make nutritious meals. The extra energy you get from being well-rested can help you get a good workout, either outdoors or in the gym. You’ll find that with the help of Apnea Health, a whole new outlook begins with a good night’s sleep!

weight loss

 


1 Rishi, Muhammad Adeel MD et al. Effect of Positive Airway Pressure Therapy on Body Mass Index in Obese Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Prospective Study. American Journal of Therapeutics: March/April 2016 – Volume 23 – Issue 2 – p 422–428