CPAP Blog

New research, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, shows that CPAP therapy lowers cortisol in apneic patients. Cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, is known to increase blood pressure, reduce immune system activity and lower bone formation, amongst many other effects.

Doctor Vgontzas of Penn State University College of Medicine and his research partners concluded:

Nonpsychologically distressed, normally sleeping, obese men had low cortisol secretion. The cortisol secretion was slightly activated by SA and returned to low by CPAP use. The low cortisol secretion in obesity through its inferred hyposecretion of hypothalamic CRH might predispose the obese to sleep apnea.

I have to say most of this type of lingo (”hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity” anyone?) is well over my head but in the forums, we had been wondering about the more intricate details of sleep apnea and the effects of it and CPAP on the various processes in the body. Research like this piece it all together slowly.

See in the forums:

• Does CPAP change blood/oxygen relationship
• Red blood cell count
• The wake up cell

Just when we discussed how effective respiratory flow sensors are in detecting apnea events, along comes a new method using thermal imaging. An infra-red camera is placed near the bed and records airflow via thermal imaging (it ’sees’ the heat produced by exhalations) to determine breathing interruptions.

Initial tests confirm this method’s accuracy and the fact that it’s a non-contact way of apnea event detection, this solution could be a break through in screening and diagnosis. A no-wires approach means your sleep lab visit isn’t hampered by getting tangled or wearing recording devices.

More info:

• Chest Journal: Remote Infrared Imaging
• Daily Mail: Bedside camera that tells if you are snoring
• (Similar Research) European Respiratory Journal: Temperature Difference between sleep apnea patients, snorers and non-snorers

As if just sleepiness, diatebes, heart problems and general brain-fog weren’t enough, a study now reports sleep apnoea syndrome sufferers are at an increased risk of loss of vision compared to the general public.

NAION is the abbreviation for Non-artheric Anteroir Ischemic Optic Neuropathy, which on its turn is a fancy way of saying loss of vision. Insufficient blood supply damages the optic nerve which may impair or cause loss of sight. Cardiovascular problems including diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol levels may contribute to the risk of NAION. Since these health issues are common amongst sleep apnoea syndrome patients, it’s easy to see the link.

A study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology earlier this year confirms earlier reports of 70% of NAION patients having sleep apnoea.

Considering there is no accepted treatment to reverse the damage done by NAION, this is quite a scary thought for sleep apnoea patients. Preventing (further) damage can be done by making sure the blood flows as well and in as good a condition as possible. Successful sleep apnoea treatment will do much good to those who might be at risk. With CPAP, blood oxygen gets restored, the heart has less work to do and health improves overall. With proper nutrition, cholesterol can be controlled and blood sugar levels balanced.

So there you have it, yet another scary prospect for all those left untreated!