"please keep me updated about oximeters "
Sleep Apnea Forum Bringing Power to the Patient
New? Free Sign Up
Then check our Welcome Center to a Community Caring about Sleep Apnea diagnosis and Sleep Apnea treatment:
CPAP machines, Sleep Apnea surgery and dental appliances.
CPAP Supplies
Latest Activity
Qustion about blood pressure
How long does it take if your sleep apnea is the cause of your high blood pressure for it to come down after I start using my cpap machine?
Views: 627
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by RChatty on
-
So basically, there is no guarantee it will help that. I was told that my sleep apnea wasn't bad enough to cause that high of blood pressure. Unfortunately, it hasn't brought it down one bit. In fact, it's gotten worse as far as that is concerned so we're still trying to find out what else I've got. I wish once one person figured it out that everybody else had the same problem. Ü
-
Permalink Reply by Rooster on
-
Without a CPAP machine which measures the efficacy of the treatment, you cannot know that you are getting good treatment. If you are not getting good treatment (prevention of breathing events), then there is no reason to believe your blood pressure will improve.
Now if you are getting good therapy, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that hypertension can be defeated and there is some emerging scientific evidence to confirm this. Here is an article published today on a small study:
"At the end of 3 months, they repeated the ABPM study and found something quite interesting. Overall, there really was no benefit in blood pressure to CPAP unless you used it long enough. The median time of CPAP use was about 5.5 hours. Those who were above the median had a substantial drop in blood pressure, both on ABPM and in the office, but those who didn't use it as much did not. Like any drug, there's a dose response. There are adverse reactions, but this looks like a potentially promising therapy for resistant hypertension," Full article: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/732094
I can't repeat it enough, a first priority is to use a data-capable machine, preferably with the optional software, to see if the machine really is "blowing away" your apnea, hypopneas and snores and if you have mask leak under control. You are guessing without the software and you are guessing about something that happens when you are asleep.
Your medical professionals are doing you (all of us actually) a big disservice by not telling us about these machines and software before we pay for a basic machine.
-
Permalink Reply by billy walker on
-
Thank you. And to Rooster, I do have a data collecting machine. I was stunned when I found that on average I am only getting 4.5 hours on a 7 day average and 3.5 on the 30 day average. I go to sleep with my mask on and wake up with it on. It also tells me that I have had 600(Not exactly) hours of therapy but the blower has ran for over 1200 hours. Maybe I should look in to another mask.
-
-
Billy, Because you only mention compliance hours as part of your data, I want to make sure you understand what we call a data-capable machine. It is a machine that reports much more than hours of usage. It uses software to report how you breathed during the night and includes data on any apneas, hypopneas, snores, mask leak and pressure. Some machines have a display that will report averages that often are not useful. The software for reporting is much more useful as it gives you a timeline of the night showing which events happened at which time - indispensable, IMO.
You are right to work on using the mask all night. However, the other data elements are critical to achieving and maintaining an effective therapy.
-
-
My machine is a Resperonics m series with c flex. It has a card in the back that can be removed. It has a humidifier with a 1 to 5 setting. Can you tell me if this is a data collecting machine by this info?
-
Permalink Reply by Rose Marie Holt on
-
I wish I remembered. I did not realize my 20 pt rise in BP was from sleep apnea until it went back down. I recall it was a matter of a few weeks if not quicker.
-
-
j n k said:"Blood pressure was measured at three-, six- and 12-month follow-ups after their baseline evaluation. The researchers found that, on average, patients who used the CPAP machine experienced an average 2mmHg drop in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure at the end of the year when compared to patients who did not use the CPAP machine."
2 mm for non sleepy OSA? Hardly clinically useful information. JMHO. Plus the article keeps jumping on my screen.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080518182658.htm
-
-
Rose Marie Holt said:
j n k said:"Blood pressure was measured at three-, six- and 12-month follow-ups after their baseline evaluation. The researchers found that, on average, patients who used the CPAP machine experienced an average 2mmHg drop in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure at the end of the year when compared to patients who did not use the CPAP machine."
2 mm for non sleepy OSA? Hardly clinically useful information. JMHO. Plus the article keeps jumping on my screen.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080518182658.htm
I should add that my BP was within normal range throughout, though near the high end before treatment, ie I dont have essential or any other kind of hypertension - the BP rise appears to be 100% due to the sleep apnea, which was the sleepy kind. So YMMV. The increase in BP was not very long lived either which may make a difference in how long it takes to go back down.
-
-
I have recently read a report that suggests "no less than 6 hrs of use a night" to help treat symptoms. remember that some of the signs of osa have been coming on for a long time.....and likely will take a long time to resolve as well. I would think it would be like any other "chronic" health problem or disease process, for instance, COPD. alot of times the patient goes to see the Dr and is told of the diagnosis. the patient quits smoking and goes through tratment for the disease. some of the facets of the disease improve and some lung function can improve if caught early enough, some of the symptoms continue to progress even with treatment. early diligent treatment of osa symptoms is essential. dont merly shoot for 5-6 hours of use with your sleep apnea device. the goal should be to tolerate therapy the entire time asleep. you may still require medication to help keep blood pressure values down to acceptable limits (like a COPD patient may require inhalers to manage shortness of breath).
-
-
I agree with j n k “with considerable variation between individuals.” And I agree with Wendy “I would think it would be like any other ’chronic’ health problem or disease process’. My high blood pressure did not decrease any for the first five years I was on CPAP therapy. However, when I started the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program and attended faithfully 3 times a week, within a year my blood pressure dropped to almost the normal range. I take ¼ the dose of medication I did prior to exercise, and my blood pressure is in the normal range. I now teach the class and tell the participants I’m teaching the class for me and they’re getting the benefit. I don’t exercise unless I have a class that I like to go to – and I don’t like most of them. I have a great time teaching this class, and the people who attend have a good time, too.
-
-
billy walker said:My machine is a Resperonics m series with c flex. It has a card in the back that can be removed. It has a humidifier with a 1 to 5 setting. Can you tell me if this is a data collecting machine by this info?
Billy, Some RemStar M series are data capable and some are not. Some data cards only record hours of usage and other cards will record the full data. To make it worse, the model names are very close and have to be checked carefully. What is the exact model name of your machine?
If it has "Pro" in the model name it is fully data capable. If it has "Plus" in the model name, it only records compliance hours - bummer.
I repeat myself frequently on this point, but to ensure effective therapy get a fully data-capable machine and software.
-
-
The Doctor writing the Rx for the machine can ask for a specific machine or specify Fully Data capable equivalent.The DME
depending on your insurance "will" get that machine or a functional equivalent.Than the Dr and the DME can instruct you how to read your #s and what they mean.......in a perfict world .....My Blood pressure still is not ok due to comorbidities .(Not enough exercise and veggies.) Now to renue gym membership .....and GO THERE : )
© 2025 Created by The SleepGuide Crew.
Powered by
