In this series, my heart has been to inform you of the dangers of sleep apnea. I know you have heard me say and read in my blog before my personal story with sleep apnea.  However, I think it is worth repeating.  I want to encourage you if you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, not to give up your CPAP until you have been retested.  The retest is a very simple procedure that can be done at home.  Here's why:

Many of the risks involved with sleep apnea are related to how your heart functions. The pauses in breathing during sleep that characterize sleep apnea can cause drastic changes in your oxygen levels and blood pressure. When this happens it puts a strain on your heart as well as increases your risk of stroke.

Research shows that people with sleep apnea have a higher rate of death due to heart disease, are more likely to have high blood pressure and are two to four times more likely to have a stroke. Studies also show that CPAP may reduce blood pressure levels in people with sleep apnea. The continuous use of CPAP over an extended period of time may also help protect as well as reduce the risks of such heart problems such as: congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, irregular heartbeat and stroke.

Based on a 7. 5 year study on sleep apnea and morbidly obese patients by the American College of Chest Physicians following weight loss surgery. The conclusion:  "We conclude that morbid obesity is not the only causative factor in the sleep apnea syndrome for these patients. Weight reduction surgery alone does not "cure" their sleep apnea, and they are still at risk."

Sleep well...yes you can, you have many more miles to go!