I have had high blood pressure for years ------- without meds (and sometimes with) 160/96.

For the past 5 years .... as my sleep has deteriorated - I have also had problems with my B/P dropping way too low ----- especially in the am - standing I can feel my B/P drop - and then it zooms back up higher than it should.

Part of the constant headache I am thinking ????  My head always feels, especially in the morning "thick" - make any sense ????

Anyone else have this type of problem with their B/P ???

I know Apnea can cause high B/P - but am wondering if these drops, orthostatic hypotension, can be normal as well ???

Thanks so much in advance ............

Nancy

I can't say definitively that my blood pressure dropped.  There have been times when I do get light-headed.  Not when I get up in the morning though.  I too have had mild hypertension throughout the years (at least past eight years).  Keep in mind I'm 37 years old.  I couldn't understand why my BP was higher than most people in my age group, especially considering I was always active (still am).  My doctor had put me on BP meds, which controlled it.  I know the second I go off it, my BP will rise again.

so much information to sort through for a "newbie" - it overwhelms me at times !!!!!

Normally my B/P is in the middle ......... 140/80.  But the sudden drops are "icky".

Maybe it is just something a "little off" with me ... the way my body is coping, don't know.

Hugs,
Nancy

Hi Nancy,

The raise in bp can certainly be apnea related.  Remember your body is going through a "fright or flight" response every time you have an apneic event.  I don't know about the bp drop.  I haven't come across that before and if you get some insight, please let us know.  I think almost 100% of us get headaches when without our CPAP.  It is probably mainly due to the hypoxia but might has some other contributing factors.

Vicki


_________________
Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.
Marilyn Von Savant

That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

According to my sleep test results, I have both apnea events, as well as upper airway resistance.

From what the doctor has told me, upper airway resistance has it's own set of symptoms, but many sleep docs tend to lump both apnea and UARS into the same bag.

A few of the symptoms of UARS that differ from apnea are:
irritable bowel, abdominal pain, diarrhea
clenching, bruxism (strong correlation)
orthostatic intolerance
cold extremities
muscle pain and tenderness
difficulty falling asleep
alpha - EEG anomaly
snoring not always present


So I go between both sets of symptoms ..... or maybe they really are both overlapping.  

Sometimes I snore away ---- my jaw feels much better in the morning !!!

Other times I clench to open up my airway ............ producing much more upper body and jaw pain.

Either way ----- "ain't" fun !!!!

Thanks again ........

Nancy

PS: Your personal story really moved me ---- thanks for the link.

http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docid=530311[url][/url]

I'll try to get the link right this time.
http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docid=530311

Like so many I found my b/p dropped in the morning.  I am taking Ramipril for high b/p.  I was taking the Ramipril  at night.  During the night my  b/p dropped way below the 120/80.   I now take my medication in the morning.   My  b/p still drops low but not a near as bad as it did when I was taking the medication at night.  

Gerri

Gerri and Nill for the input --- it is apprecaited :)

So much to learn ..... and this forum has been such a valuable tool.

Best health wishes........

Nancy