Sleep apnea and cholesterol
Sleep apnea can be a trigger for many ailments, such as h eart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes , and other illnesses. It can also have an adverse effect on your cholesterol level . First, there are 2 types of cholesterol, the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol. It used to be that you would be given just one number to tell where your cholesterol level was. Not now, you also have to take in consideration that some cholesterol is good. LDL is the bad cholesterol. It clogs up the arteries with plaque, which could eventually lead to complete blockage, which could kill you. HDL is the good cholesterol. It helps send cholesterol and fats back to the liver for recycling. Sleep apnea can reduce the level of good cholesterol . Apnea affects lipid metabolism, which has a direct effect on good and bad cholesterol, according to a German study done in 2006. The same study found that CPAP helped raise HDL cholesterol. Of course, being tired all the time can lead to poor eating habi...