​With concerns about sleep apnea and a few other sleep issues on the increase these days, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is on the increase. And concerns about a possible association of sleep apnea with issues such as heart failure, cardiovascular risk, hypertension, and various other health issues add a sense of urgency for those who suspect they might have sleep apnea.

Please note that CPAP therapy poses a unique problem for MC patients, and that issue hasn't been previously mentioned by clinicians, medical institutions, Internet websites, or anywhere else. Consequently, the problem is described near the end of this article. CPAP machines have been prescribed for many, many patients. But a few investigative reporters have raised questions about not only the growing popularity of this technology, but it's effectiveness, as well.

An online Medscape article describes the adventures of a journalist who was having problems getting a decent nights sleep, apparently, because he was becoming drowsy during the day. His wife told him that he snored, and he was worried that he had sleep apnea (Hancock, J. (2022, October 03).[1]

Indisputable evidence continues to support the position that making lifestyle behavior changes, when properly done, can be successfully used to prevent, and even reverse common chronic issues such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type II diabetes, for example. And the clinical practice guidelines listed for the treatment of such chronic diseases currently suggest lifestyle interventions as the first line of treatment, whenever possible.

But despite the fact that our doctors may recognize the benefits of a healthier lifestyle, they can ill afford to recommend lifestyle changes that don't include the use of prescription medications, when treating their patients. Here's why: