OSA and Heart rhythm problems

[karessamom]

Learned something very interesting today. Was scheduled for a cardioversion today but sent home cause I was back in Rhythm thank goodness! However as I was talking to the nurse he was asking me questions about whether I sleep with CPAP or have known OSA because he apparently sees alot of patients who have OSA and rhythm issues (he's the cardioversion expert in the IMC wing) He was saying what happens is when your oxygen levels go down too low your heart starts beating really fast to try and compensate (yeah we all know this) if you have rhythm issues it's a trigger for your heart to start going out of rhythm --that was the new part that I really hadn't thought about. Yes I've been doing really good on new machine and oxygen so don't really know what caused this problem just my heart wanted to go out of rhythm for the last 2 days straight. Dr. gave me some new meds yesterday and apparently they are working because I didn't need the cardioVersion after all. for which i'm very blessed.

[Julie]

A classic sign of long term untreated OSA is atrial fibrillation. Unfortunately some also get it even after being treated, though it likely won't be as problematic if you're on Cpap.

[karessamom]

A classic sign of long term untreated OSA is atrial fibrillation. Unfortunately some also get it even after being treated, though it likely won't be as problematic if you're on Cpap.

The funny thing is I didn't develop arrhythmias (at least that I knew of) until almost 4 years after I was dxed with OSA!

[Slinky]

I started CPAP in 2006, bi-level PAP in 2008 and had my first A fib "attack" in 2010. Rythmol SR (propafanone) and Toprol (metoprolol) have kept the A fib in check for me.

I have COPD and am on 4L 02 during the day; bi-level IPAP 14, EPAP 10 at night and 2L 02.

[RoRo]

I found out I have SA because of my cardiologist. I was undergoing tests (EKG, Stress test, 30 day heart monitor and couple of others) to determine if I was having heart trouble. Ended up with having (I forget the proper terms) occasional "heart flutters" and take Toprol xl once a day.

Anyway, while taking all these tests, the cardio doc referred me to a sleep doc to get a sleep study done. I was diagnosed with severe SA during a split study. Cardio doc said that he has noted in his experiences and also read in medical journals where SA may be a frequent cause of heart problems. So he frequently refers patients to see sleep docs based on their symptoms/ailments. (And I checked and found that the two docs were not in the same medical group either)

Glad I had a thorough cardio doc! Also was fortunate in getting a good sleep doc....

[DoriC]

A classic sign of long term untreated OSA is atrial fibrillation. Unfortunately some also get it even after being treated, though it likely won't be as problematic if you're on Cpap.

We were told the same thing by our Cardio as to long term untreated OSA and Afib. Mike has episodes of Afib with no symptoms but they show up on his EKGs. He isn't a candidate for any of the meds used for Afib due to certain side effects that would be hard to control in his case, but we were told that because of 100% cpap compliance along with 02 at night, his risks of stroke were very much reduced.

[Julie]

Terrific!

Dori - I'm sending you a PM...

[KylaManhattan]

I suffered from occasional bouts of supraventricular tachycardia (SVTs) for 15+ years before my OSA diagnosis.

At an annual check-up with my cardiologist, I mentioned that my general practitioner wanted me to get a sleep study done. He said it wouldn't hurt to do it, but was curious about what symptoms had led the GP to suggest it. I said I wasn't really sure, but mentioned in passing something that I'd never said before (I don't think I'd even focused on it before that moment): that at least half of my episodes occurred at night, waking me up from sleep.

He was clearly startled and said: "Get that sleep study done right away!" In all the talking we'd done about what could trigger SVTs -- too much caffeine, fatigue, too much stress, even the weather (high humidity, to be specific) -- we'd never talked about the time of day that episodes occurred. And he went on to explain about how during sleep, the heart reacts to a perceived oxygen shortage by beating faster, etc.

I have had the occasional bout of SVTs since I started CPAP, but none of them have originated in sleep. Not one.

[karessamom]

Both my drs were adament about it! I told them I was already on CPAP but both the cardiologist and my GP wanted a new sleep study--nothing really changed except they put me on O2 at night. Only been on it for a couple of weeks but I think its helping. it's keeping my O2 stats up for sure.

[DoriC]

I started CPAP in 2006, bi-level PAP in 2008 and had my first A fib "attack" in 2010. Rythmol SR (propafanone) and Toprol (metoprolol) have kept the A fib in check for me.

I have COPD and am on 4L 02 during the day; bi-level IPAP 14, EPAP 10 at night and 2L 02.

Hi Slinky, good to see you! Just want to confirm that you're using more 02 during the day because of more activity, right?

[johnthomasmacdonald]

yup, my first overnight sleep test diagnosed atrial fibrilation and the cardiologist figured it was mild enough and since i have no other risk factors - weight, bp,cholesterol, - that low dose aspirin and a cpap machine was enough to treat it - This has allowed me to get an ASV machine prescribed ( the only machine that has been able to get my ahi under control) and approved by my insurance company - i should get it next week since as with everything to do with our healthcare system, it has been a saga to avoid getting ripped off.

[Slinky]

Hi Slinky, good to see you! Just want to confirm that you're using more 02 during the day because of more activity, right?

Well ... its more like to stay active than to being more active, DoriC. (((hugs))) I've been keeping an occasional eye on Mike and you.

[DoriC]

Thanks for the explanation!