How much did your blood pressure drop????

[JimP]

I'm starting down that road of getting a CPAP machine and found this information about how CPAP lowers your blood pressure.

Of course what this has me thinking is whether the doctor years ago should have prescribed a sleep study instead of blood pressure pills.

Anyway, after unsuccessfully using the search function to try to find how much BP has dropped in fellow members, I thought I'd just come out and ask.

If possible, post your before and after CPAP blood pressure numbers.

[Wulfman...]

I'm starting down that road of getting a CPAP machine and found this information about how CPAP lowers your blood pressure.

Of course what this has me thinking is whether the doctor years ago should have prescribed a sleep study instead of blood pressure pills.

Anyway, after unsuccessfully using the search function to try to find how much BP has dropped in fellow members, I thought I'd just come out and ask.

If possible, post your before and after CPAP blood pressure numbers.

It CAN. It's not universal though. And, it's not like a light switch......before and after. It can take quite some time. And, some people are still taking some type of blood pressure medicines for other things like Diabetes, which help protect the kidneys.

You're trying to compare apples and oranges.


Den

.

[RogerSC]

My blood pressure dropped 15+ for the systolic number (first number of the two) after starting cpap. It was about 135, went down to below 120. But yes, this is personal, your mileage will vary. For one thing, it depends on why your blood pressure is higher than normal (if it is). And I'm sure that there are a lot of other variables that depend on the individual, there always are *smile*.

[JQLewis]

I'm seeing some reduction, but there are a lot of variables to consider. I've been losing a lot of weight and exercising a lot more as well. I've been monitoring my BP and I hope that I can see an improvement which will get my meds reduced and, fingers crossed, eventually eliminated. The meds I'm on (Nifedipine and Atenolol) are associated with arousal problems, and I want to eliminate everything which might be interrupting my sleep.

[jagzoo]

Been on CPAP Nightly with AHI 2 for over 1.5 yrs. BP hasn't dropped at all, still needing meds. Guess it depends on why ones BP is elevated in the first place. There are lots of reasons!

[VikingGnome]

NONE. I have been on antihypertensive medication for 30+ years. My blood pressure normally runs about 124/65 on medication. CPAP had no effect on my blood pressure or continued need for medication.

[LSAT]

No change...but...my BP was never very high

[49er]

I'm seeing some reduction, but there are a lot of variables to consider. I've been losing a lot of weight and exercising a lot more as well. I've been monitoring my BP and I hope that I can see an improvement which will get my meds reduced and, fingers crossed, eventually eliminated. The meds I'm on (Nifedipine and Atenolol) are associated with arousal problems, and I want to eliminate everything which might be interrupting my sleep.

JQLewis,

Any possibility of getting your BP meds switched since they are causing problems with sleep? At the risk of sounding like a Monday Morning quarterback, it just seems like with all the BP med choices, you shouldn't have to put up with side effects that interrupt sleep. But obviously, you know more about your own situation.

49er

[englandsf]

Four months in, losing some weight but still mildly obese. Seeing 10 or so drop on both BP measures. Regularly 115/75 now. My cardio says I may be able to drop one of my three BP meds within a year if I can lose another 20 lbs and keep my good blood chem (paleo diet, cholesterol below 140 with statin and perfect Boston Lab profile).

So it happens, for some, but it takes time and CPAP often is not the only factor. Typical CPAP story - no simple answer!

[cathyf]

Also, be careful about taking blood pressure readings to more precision that they have. When I go to the clinic they have an SOP where the nurse takes your blood pressure at the beginning of the appointment with the rest of your vitals, and then when the doc/PA comes in he/she takes it again. Mine goes up and down and around and around pretty wildly with the different readings. When you've seen the systolic go from 125 to 110 in 10 minutes you don't get so excited if it occasionally pops up to 135 or 145. Just measure it again and see if it comes back down.

[LSAT]

Also, be careful about taking blood pressure readings to more precision that they have. When I go to the clinic they have an SOP where the nurse takes your blood pressure at the beginning of the appointment with the rest of your vitals, and then when the doc/PA comes in he/she takes it again. Mine goes up and down and around and around pretty wildly with the different readings. When you've seen the systolic go from 125 to 110 in 10 minutes you don't get so excited if it occasionally pops up to 135 or 145. Just measure it again and see if it comes back down.

At my wife's doctor they do the same thing. She has white coat syndrome and her BP is always high at the beginning and lower at the end.

[DeadlySleep]

She has white coat syndrome

I have tight pants/loose blouse syndrome.

Seriously, I told the doctor to get one of the fat, ugly nurses to check my BP. Then it was fine.

[knothead]

Before starting Cpap treatment my bp was all over...150/90, 140/85...ect and I was on bp meds.
Since being on Cpap 4 years now my doc dropped the bp meds and my bp normally around 120/75.
I guess I'm lucky that it dropped and stabilized so well...

[Hang Fire]

Not so much addressed to the OP, but to others that posted here you may be missing something. Based on what my doctor told me there is a difference between "high blood pressure" and hypertension.

Hypertension is a dangerous chronic condition where blood pressure is elevated above normal much of the time.

An occasional high blood pressure reading is not necessarily reason for concern. Your blood pressure will naturally rise when you are exerting yourself physically for instance.

I do not have hypertension and have never had it. But what my doctor warned me about was having untreated apneas, some of which were nearly two minutes long, could drive my blood pressure so high in the bed that I could have a stroke. He said the day before or the day after my blood pressure would read normal in the doctor's office.

He also said they have a wearable device that will measure your blood pressure every so many minutes while you sleep and could use it if I wanted another sleep study. But he did not recommend another study because I should just make sure to use CPAP and always avoid apneas and spikes in BP.

Anyway, that is what he told me and I was never sure it is correct because he always acted a little kooky. But that doesn't matter to me because I always use CPAP and have the apneas under control.

[englandsf]

Good point hang fire but most people on BP meds typically have hypertension and call it HBP.