LC curing sleep apnea and snoring?

Happycat21 · 06-07-2009, 01:01 PM

Does anyone have any success stories with eating lowcarb and curing sleep apnea? Please tell me I don't have to wear this "fighter pilot mask" for the rest of my life???!!! (that would be a cpap machine with full face mask for those who are not familiar)

msnhim · 06-07-2009, 02:26 PM

I don't know about sleep apnea, but when I was at my heaviest I had started snoring. Now that the weight is gone I don't. I think it had something to do with the fat around my neck...just my guess.

I'm sure someone else will chime in on sleep apnea. My dad has it too. He is very heavy but will not try low carb.

SashimiMark · 06-07-2009, 02:39 PM

I used to snore terribly when I was in the 300's. And I'd wake up exhausted. 100 pounds later and the snoring is gone and I wake up ready for my morning walk and my big breakfast.

LustfortheMoment · 06-07-2009, 03:01 PM

The other posters are correct. LC has nothing to do with apnea. WT. LOSS via any diet can greatly improve the condition as your neck circumference decreases. Hopefully, you'll eventually be able to divorce your CPAP.......

Good Luck,

Charski · 06-07-2009, 07:08 PM

DH suffers from both and when he loses weight both are diminished greatly if not entirely gone.

He's down about 15 pounds right now and I've already noticed the sleep apnea is lessened and he definitely doesn't snore as much/loud.

So yeah, I think it's more a function of weight loss from WHATEVER plan than just because it's LC but if you have any food allergies that contribute to it (specifically grains, I'd think) then that might also factor in.

SmileySue · 06-07-2009, 09:23 PM

My doctors really thought my apnea would disappear when I lost my weight. Unfortunately, for me, that's not the case. My apnea is just as severe now as it was when I was first diagnosed. From what I've learned about apnea though, many people do get relief when they've lost weight. I guess I'm just "an exception to the rule" <sigh> Seems to be the story of my life.

Happycat, I'll be

you find relief from your apnea.

theredhead · 06-08-2009, 01:35 PM

My DH had terrible apnea and snored like a chain saw. After he started Atkins and had lost about 25 pounds, I was amazed that it had gone away. Now he's lost 100 pounds and rarely snores. It's usually only if he's really, really tired, or stopped up from allergies. The apnea has gone away completely!

Steve Harper · 07-29-2009, 09:22 PM

Hi,

Apart from being an overweight, smoking and drinking are also said to be the factors that triggers a person to snore. Of course if you are smoking, the muscles from your throat will have a tendency to relax as you keep on inhaling smoke from cigarettes. In this case, the air will be blocked so it can’t circulate well so you keep on snoring nightly. Please bear in mind that snoring happens when the muscles from your throat are relax. Thus, it is also advice to avoid drinking beers or wine before asleep so that you can avoid snoring if possible.

DiamondDeb · 07-29-2009, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LustfortheMoment

The other posters are correct. LC has nothing to do with apnea. WT. LOSS via any diet can greatly improve the condition as your neck circumference decreases. Hopefully, you'll eventually be able to divorce your CPAP.......

Good Luck,

Weight loss can sometimes affect sleep apnea but not if that wasn't related to the cause of the problem. There are lots of people with no weight problem who have sleep apnea.

SLynnB · 07-29-2009, 10:31 PM

Are you Happycat from the sleep apnea foru

I don't mind wearing mask just wish I was at a lower pressure so mask leaks weren't such an issue. Of course hubby wears one also.

Sheryl

therisamarie · 07-30-2009, 02:05 AM

There are two types of sleep apnea, obstructive and central. Obstructive is the one most suffer from, too much flab in the neck restricts airflow...the other one, Central sleep apnea (CSA), less common than OSA, is a central nervous system disorder that occurs when the brain signal telling the body to breathe is delayed. CSA can be caused by disease or injury involving the brainstem, such as a stroke, a brain tumor, a viral brain infection, or a chronic respiratory disease.

Sleep Apnea: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

Central is not going to go away no matter how thin you are and unfortunately is deadly.

ab1ht · 07-30-2009, 05:33 AM

Ditto on the snoring stories. My wife used to slap me around at night because of my snoring. Since going LC and losing 10+ pounds, I don't get beat up nearly as much.

This tells me that it doesn't take much excess weight to start snoring (and by extension, have other sleep issues).

batlou · 07-30-2009, 06:05 AM

My sleep apnea is gone as well as the crazy loud snoring.

Darkfire · 07-30-2009, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ab1ht

Ditto on the snoring stories. My wife used to slap me around at night because of my snoring. Since going LC and losing 10+ pounds, I don't get beat up nearly as much.

This tells me that it doesn't take much excess weight to start snoring (and by extension, have other sleep issues).

Yup I beat the bejeebus out of the DH, or well used to. His apnea used to be so bad I would count I said if I get to 11 an yer not breathing, yer gonna wake up....That was a decade ago, he is much better now. He does modified lowish carb.

SLynnB · 07-30-2009, 02:19 PM

Just to note, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, just as not everyone who is overweight has sleep apnea and not everyone who is skinny does not have sleep apnea.

I will also add that if your partner does stop breathing during sleep, get them to have a sleep study done. Sleep apnea can lead to a host of other medical conditions.

Sheryl

hubcityraider · 07-30-2009, 06:56 PM

My snoring went away completely at about 20lbs lost. And it was real bad. Wife wore ear plugs, beat me in the middle of the night, etc. Thank goodness losing weight cured it!

sistertzu · 07-30-2009, 08:41 PM

I use to snore badly, as I have lost weight I have stopped according to my very happy husband. I think if you look at the weightloss from low carbing it does help but without the weightloss probably not.

Sis

Happycat21 · 07-31-2009, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherlynn9

Are you Happycat from the sleep apnea foru

I don't mind wearing mask just wish I was at a lower pressure so mask leaks weren't such an issue. Of course hubby wears one also.

Sheryl

Nope, but I do think it may be the same "Happycat" as on here. I'm Happycat with a "21" at the end.

Jambabob · 07-31-2009, 08:41 AM

My sleep apnea CPAP setting was at "18" when I started Atkins. After I lost 155 lbs, the setting went down to "13". It was awesome. Of course, I gained all the wait back and its back up to "17"!!!

Happycat21 · 07-31-2009, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jambabob

My sleep apnea CPAP setting was at "18" when I started Atkins. After I lost 155 lbs, the setting went down to "13". It was awesome. Of course, I gained all the wait back and its back up to "17"!!!

Mine is at 10 right now. But my machine can also be an autopap besides a cpap, so hopefully my dr. will change it once I lose enough weight.

I must admit, I am mad I didn't go in sooner for my sleep study. I get really angry when I think about how bad I was feeling for all these years!

The cpap makes a WORLD of difference!

Jambabob · 07-31-2009, 01:02 PM

10 is a nice low setting. You don't want to get any higher. It gives me huge headaches if I sleep to long. I can't sleep more than 5 or 6 hours because it annoys me so much. The humidifier does help. A least, I do know that I have a chance of getting rid of it if I lose the weight.

sirius2469 · 07-31-2009, 08:29 PM

I needed a cpap machine for about 8 years. After I lost the weight doing Atkins I no longer needed it.

06-07-2009, 01:01 PM	#1
Happycat21 Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NYC tristate Posts: 4,731 Gallery: Happycat21 Stats: Just had baby 6 months ago, I'll update soon!? WOE: Low Carb Start Date: every day	LC curing sleep apnea and snoring? Does anyone have any success stories with eating lowcarb and curing sleep apnea? Please tell me I don't have to wear this "fighter pilot mask" for the rest of my life???!!! (that would be a cpap machine with full face mask for those who are not familiar)

07-30-2009, 08:41 PM	#17
sistertzu Resident crazy dog lady Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ca Posts: 5,121 Gallery: sistertzu Stats: 244/goal -90 Atkins/IF WOE: VLC/no grain/ minimal dairy Start Date: originally march 08 but every day is a fresh start	I use to snore badly, as I have lost weight I have stopped according to my very happy husband. I think if you look at the weightloss from low carbing it does help but without the weightloss probably not. Sis Last edited by sistertzu; 07-30-2009 at 08:45 PM..

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06-07-2009, 02:26 PM	#2
msnhim Senior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rossville IL Posts: 340 Gallery: msnhim Stats: 213/175/135 WOE: Atkins Start Date: January 2 2013	I don't know about sleep apnea, but when I was at my heaviest I had started snoring. Now that the weight is gone I don't. I think it had something to do with the fat around my neck...just my guess. I'm sure someone else will chime in on sleep apnea. My dad has it too. He is very heavy but will not try low carb.

06-07-2009, 02:39 PM	#3
SashimiMark Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Worcester, MA Posts: 2,867 Gallery: SashimiMark Stats: in love with myself WOE: organic whole foods with lots of fat Start Date: January 2008	I used to snore terribly when I was in the 300's. And I'd wake up exhausted. 100 pounds later and the snoring is gone and I wake up ready for my morning walk and my big breakfast.

06-07-2009, 03:01 PM	#4
LustfortheMoment Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Boston Posts: 469 Gallery: LustfortheMoment Stats: 194/167/140..... 5'7" WOE: "Modified" Stillman Start Date: 4-17-09	The other posters are correct. LC has nothing to do with apnea. WT. LOSS via any diet can greatly improve the condition as your neck circumference decreases. Hopefully, you'll eventually be able to divorce your CPAP....... Good Luck,

06-07-2009, 07:08 PM	#5
Charski Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mostly in the kitchen! Posts: 33,851 Gallery: Charski Stats: 174 (WW)/139/150 goal 5'5" 59 years YOUNG! WOE: ATKINS always Start Date: May 2003	DH suffers from both and when he loses weight both are diminished greatly if not entirely gone. He's down about 15 pounds right now and I've already noticed the sleep apnea is lessened and he definitely doesn't snore as much/loud. So yeah, I think it's more a function of weight loss from WHATEVER plan than just because it's LC but if you have any food allergies that contribute to it (specifically grains, I'd think) then that might also factor in.

06-07-2009, 09:23 PM	#6
SmileySue Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 5,239 Gallery: SmileySue Stats: 332/125, size 2 Maintaining since 3/08!! WOE: Low carb and clean eating/whole foods Start Date: 9/05	My doctors really thought my apnea would disappear when I lost my weight. Unfortunately, for me, that's not the case. My apnea is just as severe now as it was when I was first diagnosed. From what I've learned about apnea though, many people do get relief when they've lost weight. I guess I'm just "an exception to the rule" <sigh> Seems to be the story of my life. Happycat, I'll be you find relief from your apnea.

06-08-2009, 01:35 PM	#7
theredhead Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 2,407 Gallery: theredhead Stats: 229/147/145 WOE: Atkins/hCG/maintaining EASILY with JUDDD Start Date: 09/04/03	My DH had terrible apnea and snored like a chain saw. After he started Atkins and had lost about 25 pounds, I was amazed that it had gone away. Now he's lost 100 pounds and rarely snores. It's usually only if he's really, really tired, or stopped up from allergies. The apnea has gone away completely!

07-29-2009, 09:22 PM	#8
Steve Harper Junior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1 Gallery: Steve Harper	Hi, Apart from being an overweight, smoking and drinking are also said to be the factors that triggers a person to snore. Of course if you are smoking, the muscles from your throat will have a tendency to relax as you keep on inhaling smoke from cigarettes. In this case, the air will be blocked so it can’t circulate well so you keep on snoring nightly. Please bear in mind that snoring happens when the muscles from your throat are relax. Thus, it is also advice to avoid drinking beers or wine before asleep so that you can avoid snoring if possible.

07-29-2009, 10:31 PM	#10
SLynnB Senior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Posts: 743 Gallery: SLynnB	Are you Happycat from the sleep apnea foru I don't mind wearing mask just wish I was at a lower pressure so mask leaks weren't such an issue. Of course hubby wears one also. Sheryl

07-30-2009, 02:05 AM	#11
therisamarie Guest Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 143 Gallery: therisamarie	There are two types of sleep apnea, obstructive and central. Obstructive is the one most suffer from, too much flab in the neck restricts airflow...the other one, Central sleep apnea (CSA), less common than OSA, is a central nervous system disorder that occurs when the brain signal telling the body to breathe is delayed. CSA can be caused by disease or injury involving the brainstem, such as a stroke, a brain tumor, a viral brain infection, or a chronic respiratory disease. Sleep Apnea: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment Central is not going to go away no matter how thin you are and unfortunately is deadly.

07-30-2009, 05:33 AM	#12
ab1ht Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Westborough, MA (USA) Posts: 3,272 Gallery: ab1ht Stats: 160+/143/sub-140 (stretch goal) WOE: Eating what Mother Nature provides Start Date: December 2007	Ditto on the snoring stories. My wife used to slap me around at night because of my snoring. Since going LC and losing 10+ pounds, I don't get beat up nearly as much. This tells me that it doesn't take much excess weight to start snoring (and by extension, have other sleep issues).

07-30-2009, 06:05 AM	#13
batlou Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Prospect, KY Posts: 2,269 Gallery: batlou Stats: 290/189/165 WOE: Atkins Low-Carb Start Date: 3/06/2008	My sleep apnea is gone as well as the crazy loud snoring.

07-30-2009, 02:19 PM	#15
SLynnB Senior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Posts: 743 Gallery: SLynnB	Just to note, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, just as not everyone who is overweight has sleep apnea and not everyone who is skinny does not have sleep apnea. I will also add that if your partner does stop breathing during sleep, get them to have a sleep study done. Sleep apnea can lead to a host of other medical conditions. Sheryl

07-30-2009, 06:56 PM	#16
hubcityraider Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: 60lb Club, USA Posts: 215 Gallery: hubcityraider Stats: male: 236/176/170 WOE: Atkins 2002 Start Date: 5/13/09	My snoring went away completely at about 20lbs lost. And it was real bad. Wife wore ear plugs, beat me in the middle of the night, etc. Thank goodness losing weight cured it!

07-31-2009, 08:41 AM	#19
Jambabob Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 640 Gallery: Jambabob WOE: Low Carb Start Date: January 1st 2004	My sleep apnea CPAP setting was at "18" when I started Atkins. After I lost 155 lbs, the setting went down to "13". It was awesome. Of course, I gained all the wait back and its back up to "17"!!!

07-31-2009, 01:02 PM	#21
Jambabob Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 640 Gallery: Jambabob WOE: Low Carb Start Date: January 1st 2004	10 is a nice low setting. You don't want to get any higher. It gives me huge headaches if I sleep to long. I can't sleep more than 5 or 6 hours because it annoys me so much. The humidifier does help. A least, I do know that I have a chance of getting rid of it if I lose the weight.

07-31-2009, 08:29 PM	#22
sirius2469 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 122 Gallery: sirius2469 Stats: 360/212/198 WOE: Atkins Start Date: August 2002	I needed a cpap machine for about 8 years. After I lost the weight doing Atkins I no longer needed it.