CPAP and hypertension.

[Hanrahan]

I apologise for going off on tangents but I am primarily an insomniac with apnea as a complicating factor so I am looking at things differently than many of you.

It is a few months now I have been using my machine but with a little less than total dedication because, so far, the results have been disappointing. I am finding however that my hypertension is coming under control. It was never real bad and the drugs caused a couple of hypotension episodes until I woke up and reduced them by over 50%. I'm reducing them further now.

Is this coincidence or cause and effect? I would like to think that I am feeling better and being more active though I doubt it, but it is my goal.

[DocWils]

There is a causal relationship between sleep apnoea and hypertension, so any reduction in apnoea events will have a knock on effect in reducing hypertension as well, however it is rarely a cure in itself. You still need weight reduction, exercise and possibly medication in order to fully reduce your bp. However, as I said, CPAP is a good start and often will help reduce your bp if it is too high.

[sptrout]

In my case, my blood pressure was fine pre-CPAP, but my resting pulse rate went up 15-20 points for no obvious reason. After starting CPAP, my pulse rate soon dropped back to its normal 70-75 range. IMO, this is all part of the "fight or flight" syndrome that OSA causes every night; bad news for your cardio system.

[PaulaO2]

I apologise for going off on tangents but I am primarily an insomniac with apnea as a complicating factor so I am looking at things differently than many of you.

Actually, no, not really. A lot of us have both. We are soooo lucky, huh?

It is a few months now I have been using my machine but with a little less than total dedication because, so far, the results have been disappointing. I am finding however that my hypertension is coming under control. It was never real bad and the drugs caused a couple of hypotension episodes until I woke up and reduced them by over 50%. I'm reducing them further now.

Is this coincidence or cause and effect? I would like to think that I am feeling better and being more active though I doubt it, but it is my goal.

Yes, sleep apnea causes hypertension. It is well known the two are linked. The fact your blood pressure is decreasing with your use of the CPAP is not surprising. Congrats! What is happening is you are getting more oxygen into your blood system so your heart is having to work less hard to do its job. Other organs are also happier.

Your pessimism, however, could use some work. Look at the CPAP as a medication. Do you view the data? What is your AHI, leak rate, etc? Don't just hook yourself up and not do anything else. Study it. Take the data apart. Grasp it by the horns and make it your own!

Just like most medications, CPAP is not an instant cure. It can take time for your body to recover. Sometimes it is the mask that needs adjusted or changed. Sometimes it is the pressure. Sometimes it is sleep habits. Sometimes it is all of the above. Just like with medications, it needs monitoring.

Tell us why you are having disappointing results. We can try to help.

[Hanrahan]

I apologise for going off on tangents but I am primarily an insomniac with apnea as a complicating factor so I am looking at things differently than many of you.

Actually, no, not really. A lot of us have both. We are soooo lucky, huh?

It is a few months now I have been using my machine but with a little less than total dedication because, so far, the results have been disappointing. I am finding however that my hypertension is coming under control. It was never real bad and the drugs caused a couple of hypotension episodes until I woke up and reduced them by over 50%. I'm reducing them further now.

Is this coincidence or cause and effect? I would like to think that I am feeling better and being more active though I doubt it, but it is my goal.

Yes, sleep apnea causes hypertension. It is well known the two are linked. The fact your blood pressure is decreasing with your use of the CPAP is not surprising. Congrats! What is happening is you are getting more oxygen into your blood system so your heart is having to work less hard to do its job. Other organs are also happier.

Your pessimism, however, could use some work. Look at the CPAP as a medication. Do you view the data? What is your AHI, leak rate, etc? Don't just hook yourself up and not do anything else. Study it. Take the data apart. Grasp it by the horns and make it your own!

Just like most medications, CPAP is not an instant cure. It can take time for your body to recover. Sometimes it is the mask that needs adjusted or changed. Sometimes it is the pressure. Sometimes it is sleep habits. Sometimes it is all of the above. Just like with medications, it needs monitoring.

Tell us why you are having disappointing results. We can try to help.

Firstly, thanks for the replies. I am pleased that I wasn't imaginin things.

I'm actually fine with the machine and mask, I approached it with a PMA and the physical issues have been minimal. Sadly I'm out on a limb with the data though. I live in a regional city where a Resmed 10 Auto would cost me $2,500 so I bought a F&P Icon fixed for less than half that by mail order.

I needed some convincing that the memory stick was indeed a USB stick but someone here managed that so I have sleepyhead now recognising it but reporting that there is no usable data on it. I took it to my specialist's office and the only girl there had no idea how to read it. I took it to a chemist but they are strictly Resmed and couldn't read it either. So I still have no idea if the machine is faulty, the stick is faulty or I am driving sleepyhead wrongly.

I am a patient man and willing to give it time but there has been little improvement so far.

[PaulaO2]

I know there is a way to view the data. I don't know how because I do not have that machine. Start another thread asking that question! Unless you got a non-data capable Icon, there is a way to view the data.

If you ever feel the urge to invest in another machine, check out Supplier #2 in our Suppliers List (link at the top of every page. They sell used and open box machines at decent prices. It is how I got my S9 Autoset and where I will get my A10 next year or so.