Anyone know why there is a warning about using cpap with low blood pressure? I've been having terrible chest pain at night and very low blood pressure. Cardiac causes have pretty much been ruled out. By low, I mean as low as 71/35, and usually below 90/60. I've had a very extensive heart work up, and I do have problems regulating blood pressure and heart rate (autonomic dysfunction). But I wonder if cpap is aggravating this, esp. with the warning about not using it if hypotensive.

thoughts?

Have you been evaluated for hypothyroidism???

http://tinyurl.com/5ny6pq

and here...

http://tinyurl.com/6jyggs

Neil

I've been tested for almost everything! I have an autonomic disorder (pots postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and ncs neurocardiogenic syncope) probably secondary to a connective tissue disorder called ehlers-danlos syndrome. My collagen- from joints, skin, to blood vessels--is defective making tissues weak and stretchy. So my blood vessels have a hard time constricting appropriately to maintain a proper bp. All bloodwork is normal, but I failed the tilt table test, where they make you stand at a seventy degree angle-- my heart races, my bp drops, and too much blood pools in my lower body. Thyroid and adrenals are fine and normal. (I actually take meds to increase my bp).

But I wonder since cpap says be careful with low bp what that's about and what if any risks there are.

mkoven wrote:

Anyone know why there is a warning about using cpap with low blood pressure? I've been having terrible chest pain at night and very low blood pressure. Cardiac causes have pretty much been ruled out. By low, I mean as low as 71/35, and usually below 90/60. I've had a very extensive heart work up, and I do have problems regulating blood pressure and heart rate (autonomic dysfunction). But I wonder if cpap is aggravating this, esp. with the warning about not using it if hypotensive.

thoughts?

CPAP is famous for lowering blood pressure. In fact, sleep apnea is listed as one of the forms of secondary hypertension  (hypertension with a readily identifiable  medical cause). Your doctor(s) should know this.

Many find after they have been using their CPAP a while and are compliant, they are able to reduce  the dosage of some of their anti-hypertensive medications. Some even find they are able to eliminate  some of their anti-hypertensive medications. In fact, I have an official Resmed flyer I picked up at my DME titled "High  Blood Pressure and Sleep Apnea." It describes a woman named "Bonnie" who after CPAP, she is able to stop taking some of her anti-hypertension medications.

Again,your  doctor(s) ought to know this stuff and if they dont, you need to educate them and if they dont like "being educated" by their patients, find  some doctors who are well versed in sleep apnea, CPAP and its tendency to reduce hypertension!

Fred


_________________
"We don't need socialized medicine, what we need is insurance reform."


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