Cortisol is a bitch. "Fight or Flight" stresser. Your body stops getting O2 and the brain kicks in the cortisol. Bad. Weight gain, high blood pressure, diabetes,
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Does sleep apnea raise cortisol?
CPAP withdrawal also increased free fatty acids, glucose, cortisol, and blood pressure during sleep. The more severe the OSA, the higher those readings increased. Glucose levels increased the most in patients with diabetes. Increases in fatty acids, glucose, and cortisol have all been linked to diabetes.Sep 6, 2017
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Sleep apnea, left untreated for even a few days, can increase blood sugar and fat levels, stress hormones and blood pressure, according to a new study of sleeping subjects. A report of the study’s findings, published in the August issue of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, adds further support for the consistent use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a machine that increases air pressure in the throat to keep the airway open during sleep.
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After I started using the resmed cpap, I no longer needed naps during the day. Before, I would sleep for 12 hours, then have to take a nap 4 hours later. I was tired all the time. No more. If I nap, it is because I want to, not because I have to.
As to masks etc. I use this:
https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/ef3...0&odnBg=ffffff
It has a pivot point at the crown of your head, thus you can roll all night and still work. It is nose breather only. I thought I was a mouth breather because that was what I did with SA thus snored through my mouth. So I did a mask at first. Pain in the ass and couldn't roll over very well. Months later I tried the pillow and love it.
The first few nights, it was hard to get used to a hurricane blowing up my nose. I persevered, after a few nights, I got use to it. Now I won't go anywhere with out it.
SoClean is the cleaner I use. I tried washing 3x /week...too much of a hassle and unreliable. With SoClean, just drop it in and forget. It is the #1 recommended cleaner. It is a bit pricey though..~$200. I tired to find Big Red Chiefs model, I couldn't find it. They are both Ozone cleaners.
As to traveling, if I don't have my SoClean, I don't worry about it. If I was going to travel for +2 weeks, I would find something. A long weekend, no bigge. You do have to remember that with the SoClean there is a different top part on the resmed where you put in the water. It has a hose attachment portal. So replace the top with the original no portal flap or it won't work (been there, done that). Pack a small bottle of distilled water to refill the machine.
The CPap was a life saving (sleep saving) item. I can't remember the test results per se, but it was obscene. Something like stopped breathing 90 x in an hour. I am 55 at 190 lbs, of course, mostly muscle
ex-military, eat relatively health (a big mac once/month) and my hopes are that if I can drop 20-30 lbs, I won't need it anymore.
The results: sleep much better and rested, front end cost a little high (resmed machine was covered under insurance and I owned after 3 months MONITORED by the internet to ensure I was using it), Soclean ~ $200, pillow ~$75. I was hoping that there would be SOME weight loss due to lack of cortisol levels, but alas nope. I need to exercise more...of course.
Good luck