AF and sleep study -Cpap

[Sally_Scott]

I was told by the lead of he sleep study at NHS that there is a link with sleep apnea and AFib. She suggested to me that all people who suffer with AFib ask their GP to be referred for a sleep study.

[BobD Volunteer]

Yes this is well known here.

[Sally_Scott in reply to BobD]

Oh sorry. I had never heard of this. Perhaps admin can remove my post

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Sally_Scott]

NO NO always a good reminder especially to newbies..

[Megams in reply to Sally_Scott]

~I was never aware of this until recently Sally_Scott - I'm now 4 months post PVI cryo-ablation for PAF. Realized have had sleep apnea since 1980's.

My last GP did not take me seriously - I was able to self refer to Sleep Specialist who diagnosed mild s/a in 2016/2017.

What a difference a CPAP machine makes ~

[rosyG]

SomeEPs won’t ablate patients until sleep apnea has been sorted out as they know it won’t work until then

[Sally_Scott in reply to rosyG]

Wow never knew that. Very sensible.

[secondtry]

I had a sleep test, classed as mild SA, no treatment offered. Instead I started using a nasal strip & for the last 15 months a mouth strip. Don't know if the SA has gone but I no longer get those wake ups with a jolt and feel much better.

[Rubymurray25]

When I was finally tested for sleep apnea it was severe and was put on CPAP . At my next Cardio appointment the consultant was livid it had never been tested before and said it was undoubtable the cause of my AF and that theCPAP should help me get of meds and stop AF.

[Bring-on-the-bird in reply to Rubymurray25]

Sorry, what is CPAP?

[Yogi59 in reply to Rubymurray25]

I wonder if it actually stopped tour A F

[Yogi59 in reply to Yogi59]

your AF

[Rubymurray25 in reply to Yogi59]

I truly believe it has really contributed to calming my AF down. Again I can only assume my two ablations have also helped put me in a better place. The thing for me with CPAP I couldn't have survived with having the amount of episodes I was having an hour. I hadn't had an AF attack for 21 months until last week and that was I am 100% sure down to stress. I am not sure there is a real cure for AF so I am happy that I have it under some sort of control.

[Rubymurray25]

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most effective treatment if you have moderate to severe OSA. If you have mild OSA, CPAP is only recommended if your symptoms affect your quality of life or other treatment options have not worked. CPAP is a simple machine that pumps air through a mask you wear at night. ( Hope that helps )

[Bring-on-the-bird in reply to Rubymurray25]

Yes, thank you.

[GeorgeStevens in reply to Rubymurray25]

I was recently diagnosed with mild OSA, and CPAP was recommended. Your comment mentions "other treatment options": I'm wondering what these might be. The doctor who gave me the results of my sleep study didn't say anything about other options.

[Rubymurray25 in reply to GeorgeStevens]

I copied the info from Google but I do know some of the softer options are mouth strips over the lips to keep them shut and nasal strips to widen the airwaves and also chin straps, all of which do apparently work for very mild cases!

[GeorgeStevens in reply to Rubymurray25]

Thanks, Ruby. I've been using the nasal strips. Not sure about whether I'd want to try chin or mouth straps, though.

[Ppiman]

That’s interesting. I’ve been using this forum for getting on for three years and didn’t know that, either.

Coincidentally, only yesterday, I’d been reading about it, and saw a study in which between 35-50% of AF sufferers had some degree of obstructive sleep apnoea. I’ve also read that many with AF are also overweight, which, I gather, is the major cause of OSA.

At 6’4”, I’m not too overweight at all, about a stone heavier than where I’d like to be, at 100kg (15st 11lb) and I’ve been told I don’t have OSA, although I’ve never been tested.

My friend has it, however, and has assiduously used his CPAP machine each night. He seems a highly motivated and unusual sufferer, however, as the evidence I found suggests that only about a third, if that, of CPAP users can cope with using the machines. I have enough trouble sleeping as it is, goodness knows how I’d sleep with one of those!

Steve

[Rubymurray25 in reply to Ppiman]

I think my sleep apnea wasn't picked up for over 30 years was in fact because I was not overweight and reasonably fit. I was getting up 4/5 times a night and noticed I had high blood pressure when I woke up, I asked on this forum for advice and someone suggested I might get check out for SA!!!!! ( I say 30 years as my wife would tell me I would always wake up gasping for air but the penny never dropped )

[Ppiman in reply to Rubymurray25]

I thought my waking up was for that but my wife says not and a sleep specialist I saw dismissed the idea for some reason. I’m not a bad weight but I’m thinking of asking for a test.

Steve

[Rubymurray25 in reply to Ppiman]

My doctor is excellent but there was a reluctance to send me to the sleep clinic, I explained my blood pressure test etc but she said that she would have to get my wife's report on my sleep events of gasping for air, all a little strange. I pushed a little and was given the NHS verbal test along the lines of the following link

Sleep self-assessmentassets.nhs.uk › self-assessments › index.mob.html

Question 1 of 8. Thinking about a typical night in the last month, how long does it take you to fall asleep? 0 to 15 minutes. 16 to 30 minutes.

Don't hold back as you need to show a high score to get a referral. I scored 21 and had an immediate appointment booked and it was discovered I was having 68 episodes an hour ( hence the cardiologist being shocked ) , the normal range is circa 5 episodes ph. I hated CPAP originally but after three months of trial and error it is 3 years on it is my best friend ( average 2 episodes an hour now ) and always get a great 8 hours sleep with just one wee visit and I do drink 2 litres of water a day.

[Ppiman in reply to Rubymurray25]

Thanks very much for that information and the link. I’ll look into matters again. My issues are insomnia and night time loo visits but I’m intrigued by how common sleep apnoea is.

Steve

[Megams in reply to Rubymurray25]

~I do understand your comments succinctly re not fitting the profile of someone with S/A.I fit the same criteria weight & fitness wise but was told by Sleep Specialist who diagnosed me that S/A can be hereditary - my late Father was 6ft/2, big boned English gentleman who was not overweight but snored loudly & held his breath at times - I could hear him in the next room but always thought that was normal

Thank goodness for medical advancement~

[Zora1 in reply to Ppiman]

I started using a CPAP in May and have found that I sleep much better and wake up more refreshed.

[Ppiman in reply to Zora1]

I’m being tempted to ask for a test! I never realised so many AF sufferers also have sleep apnoea.

Steve

[andyk0001]

Don't hold your breath that you will get an appointment but good luck anyway.

[Sally_Scott in reply to andyk0001]

I’ve got an appointment in November

[andyk0001 in reply to Sally_Scott]

Excellent news - well done. Our surgery has been put into special measures, perhaps that explains why getting appointments has been so difficult.

[Snowgirl65]

It's common here in the States to be checked for sleep apnea before prescribing medications for a-fib. The condition is a known trigger for a-fib.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

You may find our presentation helpful by Dr W Foster 'Snoring and AF' which is currently available "on demand" from our HRC2021 A F Association Patients Day heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

[geepo1]

I don’t have SA but I do breath out through my mouth when I’m asleep. I have had treatment for Afib for eight years but neither the cardiologist or the ablation surgeon questioned me about this. I do see a nutritionist and he asked me about my breathing and recommended sealing my mouth with a piece of micropore, I now sleep much easier and deeper and wake less in the night.