I have had 3 failed ablations and my dr ordered a sleep study to see if there is an underlying cause to my afib (I’m 38/f) have had afib since end of 2021. No medication works either.
I guess my question is how many ppl also have sleep apnea and afib. Did it help your afib treating the sleep apnea.
I have not been diagnosed I have a sleep study ordered for next week. This is a last ditch effort to see if there is any cause to my afib.
It is a known possibility though SA does not automatically mean AF or vice versa.
I was diagnosed with OSA in 2014 and treated with a CPAP machine. It made a huge difference almost immediately to my general state of health, almost eliminated nocturnal AF but made little difference to episodes triggered by infections, stress etc. I was much more able to deal with life with AF because I got good nights’ sleep - although I have to warn you that it takes time to get used to the machine and about 4-6 weeks to feel benefit.
It’s worth taking the assessment to see but unless you have nocturnal AF not sure it will make much difference. Good luck and let us know how you get on.
One of my work colleague's has started using some sort of nostril device/rubber plugs? for his sleep apnea. He says it’s made a massive difference and he feels great when he wakes up.
Good Morning Jetcat, The nostril device sounds interesting, would it be possible for you to ask your work colleague for the name of the device please? And also whether or not it was prescribed by his doctor or a sleep clinic. I use CPAP, which works, but it's a real pain when travelling, so I'm ever hopeful that there is an alternative therapy out there. Thank you in advance. Bill
Yes, I will get back to you. I do remember him showing me them. They looked to me like a little pair of silicone bungs with holes in them. He’s been using them for a few months now and says he’s now able to sleep back in the main bedroom now instead of being stuck in the spare bedroom on his own.!
Hi be good to know what this device is. Will ask sleep clinic when next there if it is approved as would affect holiday insurance etc if not. Thanks!
YUZHOU nasal dilators.👍
The brand is YUZHOU. and they’re called nasal dilators.
Thank you very much Jetcat. Happy New Year.
If you have diagnosed SA nasal dilators have little or no affect but I agree it’s a bind when travelling.
When I had my sleep study in hospital few years ago, most of my sleep was fine but when I went into REM sleep, I had a lot of apneas. Apparently this seems to be something that happens more so in women than men. The sleep specialist said that overall my diagnosis would be mild sleep apnea and they wouldn’t necessarily treat it but my REM sleep showed severe sleep apnea and with my arrhythmias it was important to treat it.
I have had 4 ablations and have been on CPAP for 5 years, since around the time of my last ablation, and things have been good since then.
OSA is measured by a hypoxia index. Normal is 5.5 or less (I think) and my readings on the CPAP each morning are usually 1 or 2 so it is well controlled.
Carting a CPAP around whilst travelling is a pain but I’d rather keep using it and ensure my heart is under control. My mum has severe sleep apnea and now has dementia - that’s another reason I’d like to make sure I’m sleeping well and keeping my oxygen levels up at night.
All the best.
I have never heard of "hypoxia" index. Do you mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)?
The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) is the combined average number of apneas and hypopneas that occur per hour of sleep. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) it is categorized into mild (5-15 events/hour), moderate (15-30 events/hr), and severe (> 30 events/hr) (1).
I have just completed a sleep study overnight, apparently it can take 8-10 weeks all results to come in, but may need a CPAP machine!
Good Morning Afib_Girl,
I have both AF and SA, I use a CPAP machine for SA and I've had three cardioversions and two ablations for my AF. (What a show off!).
During the periods between cardioversions and ablations when I'm in Normal Sinus Rhythm my AHI as recorded on my CPAP machine is an average around 1.0. When I slip into AF my AHI rises to an average of around 10.0. This is mainly due to Central Events which are generated by the heart. So yes, in my case they are definitely linked.
Please let me know how your sleep study goes and if you go onto CPAP as there are free pieces of software out there that will help you analyse your sleep results in more depth than your CPAP machine. Good Luck! Bill
My two triggers seem to be trapped stomach gas (primarily) and sleep apnea.
Do you wake up needing air and find you have gone into Afib? If you doze sitting up and let your head come forward and close off your airway, do you wake up feeling short of air and feeling your heart fluttering or actually in Afib? There should be some clues as to your connection between sleep apnea and Afib episodes, it seems to me.
I have eliminated Afib events caused by sleep apnea by sleeping turned slightly on my right side with my right cheek on the pillow and chin slightly raised. A couple of times over the past year, I have been careless and fallen asleep sitting up in bed and gone into Afib.
Now if I could just be more careful about avoiding eating something that I shouldn't!
(I have celiac and other issues with gas-causing foods.)
Simple entry level intervention would be Breatheright nasal strips.
I have used them for several years and believe they help my mild diagnosed SA. I am scheduled for another Sleep Test next month to see if my levels of SA have changed. I will check out Jetcat's suggestion.
I use those - I think they're brilliant! I've never had a sleep study or been diagnosed with SA but I often wake up feeling really congested and unable to breathe through my nose and are probably mouth breathing a lot during the night as a result. The Breathright nasal strips have totally cured that.
Is it possible your afib is from long covid? My granddaughter apparently has afib from long covid.
Hey, I am in Canada and one of the first things they do is check for SA if you have Afib. I didn’t think I would have it as I am not tired and don’t snore but turns out I get a ton of hypopneas. My oxygen level was dropping as low as 69% at times. I got my cpap machine and my episodes stopped. I am on sotalol as well but was still getting episodes until my cpap. The only episodes I’ve had since then is when I had a cold and I couldn’t use my CPAP machine( I just have the little nose mask and my nose was plugged) and when I tried having alcohol again 🙄 I did go out and buy a full face mask for the times I’m sick because the CPAP seems to be biggest help with my afib. I hope this is the case for you!
A pharmacist friend of mine suggested the nasal strips for night time and they helped me a little - she had her Dad use them and they helped him too.
afib and sleep apnea 
Afib and sleep apnea
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Bradycardia, sleep apnea and now AFib
