Apnea Treatment Fights Metabolic Syndrome

Treatment for obstructive sleep apnea may also reduce heart disease risk, a new study suggests. Obstructive sleep apnea blocks the airway and hinders breathing during sleep. Most people with this condition also have metabolic syndrome. This is a group of symptoms that add up to a higher risk of heart disease. The symptoms include a large waist, high blood sugar, low HDL (“good cholesterol”) and high levels of another blood fat, triglycerides. The study included 86 adults. All had obstructive sleep apnea. About 87% had metabolic syndrome. Half were treated with a machine that uses continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to keep the airway open. Half got a fake treatment. That machine looked similar but did not maintain air pressure. After 3 months, each person was switched to receive the other treatment (real or fake).