Apnea/a fib connection?

[peachtreepiggy]

I am due for an ablation on July 16th....My question is this: I am also due for a sleep study, because I think I might have sleep apnea which is causing me to wake up with a fibs.....Should I wait for the results of the sleep study before having an ablation and scarring my heart maybe unnecessarily, or proceed with the ablation? Can sleep apnea treatment reduce the incidence of a fibs? Thanks for your ideas, guys and gals!!!!

[Marvel3000]

Hiya,It was suspected I had sleep apnea so a sleep study was organised before doing the ablation. They waited for the result before scheduling a date so I would think that is what they will do. It would be best to speak to your Cardio/EP to get some clarity especially with the date coming up soon.

[peachtreepiggy in reply to Marvel3000]

Yeah, I am going to call my cardiologist. Good advice! Thanks....

[Marvel3000 in reply to peachtreepiggy]

Your most welcome.

[BobD Volunteer]

It is well known that SA can be a trigger for AF and I am sure that treating it may well reduce your AF burden but I m not aware of any studies showing it will stop the AF . IMHO I would not turn down the ablation in the hope that it would.

[peachtreepiggy in reply to BobD]

Thank you. I want my AF burden completely gone, so that's why I am hoping that the possible apnea treatment will eradicate it!

[mjames1]

A lot depends on what is your afib burden now, i.e. how much of a rush you're in to ablate and how you would feel if you lose your spot and have to re-schedule another ablation.

If it turns out you have a significant apnea -- you may or may not -- then treating it may substantially reduce, or possibly even eliminate your afib burden. But keep in mind that ablation is also not guaranteed to eliminate afib, with a substantial reduction in burden a more realistic expectation over time.

Also, there are other equally important lifestyle factors such as obsesity and high blood pressure that can also impact your afib burden, so treating just the apnea alone may not work.

Personally, I'd try and optimize whatever I can prior to making the ablation decision -- apneas, weight, blood pressure, etc, with losing weight being the biggest priority if I was overweight.

Good luck with your decision.

Jim

[Kaz747]

I had a sleep study a few years ago which found that overall I had mild sleep apnea (bordering on moderate) however when I went into REM it was severe and my Oxygen levels dropped a lot. My sleep specialist said that if I didn't have AF, he would be in two minds about treating it, however because I do have a heart history he recommended CPAP. I have a nasal pillow (rather than a full face mask) and it's not too bad.

[secondtry]

I believe it is rare that one thing causes most AF but rather a build up of factors that when the threshold is reached tips us in to AF.

I would therefore get the sleep study done, use nasal strips, eat earlier and lighter in the evening and reduce stress particularly in the evening eg avoid News, crime thrillers and family issues. I now sleep much better switching the computer off at 5pm and using a magnesium/melatonin skin cream; less waking up with a headache, which I attribute to my mild SA.

[OzJames]

I’ve read that elevating the bed at head end by around 4-6 inches can help reduce symptoms. I have snoring issues and for the last 4 months since I’ve been trying the elevated bed my wife tells me I don’t snore anymore. I’ve also changed from being a back sleeper to a right sided sleeper. Most importantly no AF in the last 4 months…

[JillyBeau]

I only had a couple of incidents of sleep apnoea where I woke gasping for breath - I started sleeping upright on my left side and didn’t have any more problems. Sleeping on your left can put less strain on blood flow. Worth a try

[Zora1]

I was diagnosed with Afib 4 years ago (while I waiting for a sleep apnea test). I started using CPAP which greatly reduced sleep apnea episodes. However, it had little effect on my paroxysmal Afib. Over 2 years my episodes went from occasional to every week. I had an ablation 1 1/2 years ago and have had no episodes since then. Sleep Apnea may predispose to Afib but treating Apnea doesn’t eliminate Afib. I have even continued the CPAP because I don’t want the Afib to return. Honestly, the ablation was a piece of cake. I wish I had done it sooner. Good Luck!

[Jetcat]

sleep apnea and afib are linked but so is afib and no sleep apnea so I wouldn’t like to suggest anything to be honest.!

[CheriAlli]

Omg I’m in the same boat! I also need to have a sleep apnea test and have an ablation scheduled July 1st.

Not sure what to do either…was thinking of doing the sleep apnea test and in the meantime getting a cardioversion instead.

[peachtreepiggy in reply to CheriAlli]

Isn't a cardioversion when you are having constant a fibs and they have to shock your heart back into rhythm? Mine are once or twice weekly usually lasting an hour or less , and a lot of times I wake up in a fibs, so that is why I am thinking they might be related to apnea/snoring......

[Simplybe]

I was diagnosed with afib couple of years ago. Took flecinde for about year and came off of it because the side effects were nuts. Found that if my stress level stays low and I get plenty of sleep even with my abstructive apnea I don’t have any a fib episodes. Still taking Eliquis and eating better . Exercise better and eat well I believe this has helped me in the long run try to find out what is triggering your fib. SA greatly reduces oxygen to your body and causes all kinds of problems.