The CPAP highlights one of my greatest fears, a patient tells Pulmonary Hypertension News, that her new, hard-fought health is fleeting, that she will again require life-sustaining machines. 

 In an overnight sleep study, the machine effectively kept my airways open through its application of continuous air pressure. My doctor showed me graphs demonstrating the difference it made. “You need help,” were his exact words, admitting his surprise at the severity of my apnea, given my age. Add that to the list of reasons I do not feel 25 — among my 56-year-old heart and lungs, my love for Grape Nuts, and early bedtimes.