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Suggest Treatment For Sleep Apnea In An Over Weight Person With High BP

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Posted on Mon, 23 Feb 2015
Question: I am asking the prognosis for a 45 year old man who had a massive heart attack at 38. At that time he received 5 stents and was told that he had sustained damage to his heart and had "the arteries of a very old man". He has familial hypercholesterolemia, high blood pressure and a high resting heart rate. All of which he takes medicine for. In addition he has been diagnosed with sleep apnea (stops breathing every 3 minutes) but this remains untreated, and is overweight. Is he at high risk for any medical problems?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
If you control BP, tachycardia&dyslipidemia, you will improve prognosis...

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

The prognosis is considered not good (bad) if his:
- hypertension
- tachycardia
- dyslipidemia
are not put into control (not well controlled). This is why is so important to treat them with medication, diet and healthy lifestyle to improve the prognosis.

2. To my opinion, sleep apnea should be well treated. However, first, I'd recommend to run sleep study before deciding to wear CPAP.

3. It is important to stabilize these parameters to predict a good prognosis and increase life expectancy.

Hope it answered to your queries!
Wish you health!
Dr.Benard
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (56 minutes later)
Even medication can not put the cholesterol into a normal range, it just lowers the cholesterol but not to a normal range. A sleep study was done 8 years ago and a cpap was recommended but has not been used.
Can you please tell me what the bad prognosis means, what the danger is? Is it another heart attack or a stroke or something else? And what is "well treated"?
What is life expectancy with the current information you have?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (21 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Following answer to your queries...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

A bad (or poor) prognosis means that it has high percentage of serious disease and imminent death within next ten years. Major complications are a second heart attack, severe heart failure, stroke and sudden death.

This is why it's important to control BP, tachycardia and dyslipidemia. All the efforts should be made to stabilize the three of them, but especially cholesterol levels. A strict diet, together with healthy lifestyle (stop smoking, don't drink), increased physical activities and medical therapy will be of help.

Also a good sleep at nigh will be of help in stabilizing BP, tachycardia and dyslipidemia. I strongly suggest to repeat the sleep study and to begin using CPAP (this is "well treated" for sleep apnea).


My opinion is that the mean life expectancy is around 15 years and can increased to 25 if he will stabilize the mentioned parameters.

Wish you health!
Dr. Benard
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Benard Shehu

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 2257 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Sleep Apnea In An Over Weight Person With High BP

Brief Answer: If you control BP, tachycardia&dyslipidemia, you will improve prognosis... Detailed Answer: Hi, The prognosis is considered not good (bad) if his: - hypertension - tachycardia - dyslipidemia are not put into control (not well controlled). This is why is so important to treat them with medication, diet and healthy lifestyle to improve the prognosis. 2. To my opinion, sleep apnea should be well treated. However, first, I'd recommend to run sleep study before deciding to wear CPAP. 3. It is important to stabilize these parameters to predict a good prognosis and increase life expectancy. Hope it answered to your queries! Wish you health! Dr.Benard