John Bishop was visiting his cardiologist to discuss his high blood pressure. During the visit, he mentioned his wife commenting on his snoring. The cardiologist suggested he do an overnight sleep test, which revealed startling results: He averaged 52 pauses in breathing an hour, a notably high number. His blood oxygen levels had dipped as low as 82% during the night. In this test, values under 90% are considered low.
John was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. The condition affects an estimated 15% of older adults and occurs more commonly in those who, like John, have other cardiovascular conditions or are overweight. The sleep specialist prescribed a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device.
Eventually, John found a CPAP mask that worked and was comfortable to wear all night. The mask, plus significant weight loss thanks to changed diet and exercise routines, caused a dramatic improvement in both his blood pressure and his energy levels.
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