Sleep Apnea

[maria68]

I’ve got AF and just been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and have started with a CPAP Machine.

However on the third night of trying to sleep but struggling to get comfortable with the machine I woke up around 5.30. and had palpitations. An AF attack had started and is calming down now with the help of Flecainide. I though the machine was supposed to help my AF. Has anybody else had this problem?

[BobD Volunteer]

Sleep apnoea can exacerbate AF. Your machine will stop your apnoea but you now have AF as well which it will not help.

[Dawsonmackay]

Somewhat unrelated but after a successful ablation, I found that I hold my breath a lot which affects my heart regardless like it is going to have an Afib attack. Watch your breathing. In fact, you should start doing two minute exercises of normal breathing.

[Hidden]

They do take a while to get used to, I hated mine for the first 4 weeks at least. Now it is second nature though and sleeping without it feels wrong!

CPAP machine will not stop you having apneas, but it will reduce them thus reducing stress on your heart.

When I had my sleep test my O2 level was dropping to below 80% when I stopped breathing, causing heart rate to rise etc.

I was having around 15 events per hour IIRC, now with my cpap on I am having between zero and 0.5, which is better than a "normal" person

[macdongr]

I would certainly give it more time and work on relaxation techniques. It makes sense that speep apnea has played a role in your Afib. Hang in there and think good thoughts!

[Madscientist16]

CPAP can help reduce the number of and length of AF episodes, but it will take time. Give it a chance to help you. You have not been sleeping well for a long time before your diagnosis.

[Alessa69]

Funnily enough , 3 rd time I tried to relax & use my newly prescribed CPAP, I went into AF after 1 hr ..... took machine off !