Sleep Apnea and Blood Pressure

[JimH]

I keep seeing comments regarding sleep apnea and high blood pressure associated from this condition. It is said that the treatment for Apnea helps to reduce ones blood pressure. If you are on medication for hypertension (high blood pressure) and you start treatment (in my case with CPAP) could it reduce you blood pressure to a levels below your own norm? I know when my blood pressure is low I tire easily, I am listless and awful cranky. much like I was before CPAP. I know I felt great at the beginning and overall still feel better, but somedays I don't feel anymore refreshed. Could the combination of medication and CPAP be creating this feeling of not being rested even though I am having the best sleep in years?

Just pondering the effect of the CPAP treatments on blood pressure and still being on medication.

[notbigenuf1]

I know my blood pressure came down after i started treatment

[IWannaSleep]

My blood pressure seems to be coming down too, also my elevated heart rate is trending lower. The more I exercise the lower it goes too. I would suggest getting a blood pressure monitor and testing yourself regularly. So many of these conditions are inter-related you need to make sure and know what's going on so you can intelligently speak with your Dr and together make any adjustments to meds and other treatment as changes in your health require.

[tater pie]

It's possible. It depends on what was the major cause of your high blood pressure anyway. As my doc described it to me, some high blood pressure is caused by the loss of some of the "elasticity" of your blood veins. As we get older, they get a little stiffer and don't give as much when your heart beats so your blood pressure tends to go up. If that's the case, your blood pressure will lower some but not enough for you to go off medication. I may have gotten some of it wrong but that's the way I understood it. Hope you can get off of blood pressure meds. They're a drag.