No Shave November

[Alps]

Based on the handful of CPAP users I know, I would recommend a weight loss program to get into "normal" weight (or as close as feasible) to those with (potential?) sleep apnea. I believe there's a pretty strong correlation between weight and apnea.

[robbones]

Mouth breathers like myself has to use a full face mask.

[Laura]

Mike uses a CPAP but can wear a beard without issues. It must be the type of mask he has. Weirdly, he claims it isn't as tight when he fully shaves.

Based on the handful of CPAP users I know, I would recommend a weight loss program to get into "normal" weight (or as close as feasible) to those with (potential?) sleep apnea. I believe there's a pretty strong correlation between weight and apnea.

There is, and yet, no one has suggested that Mike do this as part of his treatment. It's a great failing of the medical system that lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, sleep, and drinking more water aren't seriously recommended as part of the solution. They only seem to be recommended when there isn't an answer.

[Pete from Boston]

It's a great failing of the medical system that lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, sleep, and drinking more water aren't seriously recommended as part of the solution. They only seem to be recommended when there isn't an answer.

They're recommended all the time, and society is loaded full of messages urging weight loss, healthy living, exercise, etc.  But these messages are white noise, drowned out by more profitable noise.

I assure you almost every doctor is frustrated with their clients' neglect of easy choices for good health (easy being relative–weight loss is easier than decades of the terrible degradation of diabetes, for instance).  But what can they do with their little influence?  As a society, these simple lifestyle improvements are not something we seem to want.

[Laura]

It's a great failing of the medical system that lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, sleep, and drinking more water aren't seriously recommended as part of the solution. They only seem to be recommended when there isn't an answer.

They're recommended all the time, and society is loaded full of messages urging weight loss, healthy living, exercise, etc.  But these messages are white noise, drowned out by more profitable noise.

I assure you almost every doctor is frustrated with their clients' neglect of easy choices for good health (easy being relative–weight loss is easier than decades of the terrible degradation of diabetes, for instance).  But what can they do with their little influence?  As a society, these simple lifestyle improvements are not something we seem to want.

I get what you are saying, but the messages are usually ridiculously generic. "Move 60 minutes every day!" "Eat more vegetables!" The problem is that there is no practical application to go with the advice.

I have some endocrinological issues and have learned to manage through diet. I was initially told to "eat less carbs", which seems simple but isn't when the only cooking you know is Italian-American carb heavy cooking. I learned through personal research that I needed to cut my carb intake down to 30-45g of carbs per meal or snack and that the protein needed to be at least half that. Fats are good, too. So I learned balance. However, without that knowledge, eating less carbs sounds like "no more pasta" and "no more bread" when in reality, I can still eat those things in smaller quantities, like eating a sandwich or a scoop of pasta with meat heavy sauce.

I have done the Weight Watchers program in the past and successfully lost weight on it. Their model focuses on going to meetings every week, where there is usually some sort of theme. Say the theme is eat more fruits and veggies. They will then give practical suggestions for how to do this - recipes for cooking, on the go solutions, methods for families, singles, eating out, etc. This usually only covers about 15 minutes of the meeting, but it's relatively helpful. Also, other members get to share their tips, too, like for 3 step vegetable soup or something.

A doctor's time is limited, but they should be able to give meaningful pointers in a few minutes on how to actually apply the advice tailored to that person's general circumstances.


iPhone

[cjk374]

I have a deviated septum that causes me to snore loudly and perhaps give me a potential to have a minor case of apnea.  No diet in the world can fix that.

[US71]

I have a deviated septum that causes me to snore loudly and perhaps give me a potential to have a minor case of apnea.  No diet in the world can fix that.

Have you tried using a CPAP?

As for a beard, I've never been good at it: I'm too fair haired.

[Duke87]

It's a great failing of the medical system that lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, sleep, and drinking more water aren't seriously recommended as part of the solution. They only seem to be recommended when there isn't an answer.

Taking drugs and using machines is easy. Making serious lifestyle changes is hard.

I routinely suffer from lack of sleep due to my inability to enforce a bedtime upon myself. I really shouldn't still be awake, yet here I am.

This is a distinct downside of having a job that doesn't particularly care exactly what hours you work. I will most likely still be in bed at 9 AM tomorrow morning. But nobody will ever yell at me about being late for work, so I suffer from lack of reason to care.

[Thing 342]

I am mostly unable to grow a beard. If I don't shave, I simply look like I have dirt on my face; Though, I do try in vain to keep a bit of stubble on my chin.

[golden eagle]

After looking at myself in the mirror this morning, not shaving after a week is not a good look for me. Therefore, I punked out.

[cjk374]

I have a deviated septum that causes me to snore loudly and perhaps give me a potential to have a minor case of apnea.  No diet in the world can fix that.

Have you tried using a CPAP?

As for a beard, I've never been good at it: I'm too fair haired.

I haven't been to a specialist to be tested, but I know it's coming one day.