Category Archives: Sleep Apnea

Is Sleep Apnea Fueling An Epidemic Of Heart Failure?

Sleep Apnea and CPAP

Do you snore?

You likely don’t know, unless someone told you that you do.

Do they tell you that you stop breathing while sleeping?

 

Sleep apnea is a condition that causes you to stop breathing while you sleep.

You don’t likely worry all that much about snoring.

Your spouse is likely more concerned than you are!

First off, it effects his or her ability to sleep.

BUT more important, they likely feel like holding their breath when you do!

Maybe they even jab you in the side to get you to take a breath?

 

Watching someone you care about stop breathing is not fun, though you might get use to it.

Recently, on the Heart Failure Solutions Page on facebook, we had an awesome discussion about sleep apnea and why it should concern you.

It started with a question that really resonated for many people.

Is this something you should give more attention to? Continue reading Is Sleep Apnea Fueling An Epidemic Of Heart Failure?

Can a Sleep Study Save Your Life?

Carbon dioxide toxicity (2) -300

If you have sleep apnea (you stop breathing while you sleep) a sleep study can most definitely save your life.  However, if you don’t apply the treatment to prevent your sleep apnea, then the sleep study is worthless!

Sleep apnea is deadly!

When you stop breathing during your sleep, your oxygen level drops robbing your body of this life giving nutrient, but that isn’t the worst part.

When you stop breathing, your carbon dioxide level climbs causing an acidic condition in your body that literally fries your brain and all your internal organs!

If you are ignoring your sleep apnea, you MUST be aware that you are risking your life!

Got a death wish?

Sleep apnea will cause: Continue reading Can a Sleep Study Save Your Life?

Is Sleep Apnea Robbing You of Restful Sleep and Destroying Your Health?

Your family will probably notice your sleep issue before you do.

If your family is worried, you should be.

If you live alone, you may not be aware that you stop breathing while you sleep.

Do you feel tired all the time?

Do you fall asleep easily during the day?

 

Sleep apnea victims often fall asleep while standing up or driving.

To avoid serious injury or death, time is of the essence.Is sleep apnea robbing you of restful sleep and destroying your health?

Beyond these obvious signs of sleep apnea, the condition may go unnoticed and untreated.

Over the 10 years that I spent advocating for patients that I suspected had sleep apnea, the length of time that it took for those patients to schedule a sleep study, and to get those results read by a doctor shocked and alarmed me.

Often patients have to schedule a second sleep study after the first one shows they have DANGEROUS sleep apnea just to evaluate which equipment would treat the condition best!  MONTHS go by before ANY treatment is provided on a routine basis.

WHY are patients waiting for many months to a year for treatment of dangerous sleep apnea!

The only thing that makes this care cost effective is if the patient dies in their sleep before they accumulate too very many medical bills!

What is the motivation to ignore a potentially fatal illness?

Ignorance keeps many of these people from having any type of evaluation for MANY years before their doctor finally starts asking questions.  More often than not, the doctor asking the questions is an emergency or critical care doctor wondering why you fell asleep in the middle of your day.

Caregivers in rural areas are more likely to miss sleep apnea just because they don’t see it very often.

BUT, many times patients are SENT HOME without sleep apnea equipment EVEN WHEN sleep apnea has been documented DURING their hospitalization!

WHY?!

 

What’s WRONG with this picture?

Come on now!  Why is this issue not causing more alarm?

You can’t put all the blame on overwhelmed physicians.  I think we should hold the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology accountable as well.

A joint statement from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology  called for large-scale studies to determine the mechanism for the link between sleep apnea, and the increased risk for dying from cardiovascular disease.

Come on now.  They acknowledge that “de-saturation of blood oxygen levels is a stressor”.

Talk about an understatement!

Dangerously low blood oxygen levels are extremely harmful and potentially fatal!

Every time you stop breathing your oxygen level falls and your carbon dioxide level climbs causing a very harmful shift in your acid/base balance.

Sleep apnea effectively fries your body with acidity.  (Check out the ruler, your pH drops when you stop breathing!)

Why would they advise further research instead of treating the extremely dangerous condition that has already been identified?

 

DO SOMETHING to get the help you need TODAY.

Why is the American Heart Association choosing to fund further research instead of spending those dollars on solutions for the individual?

After all, the lead researcher, Terry Young, PhD, professor of epidemiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison said,

“In epidemiology you rarely get such strong, robust findings. This strong association between sleep apnea and increased risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular risk was striking.”

Enough endless spending on research.  Finances and Science are only valuable resources when put to good use.

The Obesity Epidemic Will Make Sleep Apnea

MORE Prevalent in the Near Future. 

Weight gain is also a side effect of sleep apnea. 

The time to evaluate and act is NOW!

Your life is in danger every time you sleep!

Have this discussion with your doctor!

Lose Weight and Utilize Home Oxygen

LIVE!

 

Many blessings,

Carrie Tucker, RCP

The Life Breath Coach

Heart Failure Solutions

 

PS– Remember everyday:

  • Relax and Release tension
  • Exhale Slowly
  • Be active in a way that adds Joy to your life

Plus pure water ~whole foods~sunshine~and laughter