Apnea and brady-tachycardia

[daylight]

I have recently been diagnosed with Mild Obs. sleep apnea. On my results I had 66 epidsodes of bradycardia (heart rate as low as 30) and 3 episodes of tachycardia. I have been having some palpitations during the day also. I am having my CPAP triation done if a few weeks. I do see a pulmonologist (diagnosing if I have RAD or asthma), he believes that my bradycardia will stop once the apnea (which from what I understand is very mild (2 apneas and 10 hyponeas). I did not get to talk to the Pulmonologist before the second test was scheduled, basically because my regular dr. finally talked me into have the OSA test after I didn't go when he(the pulm.) recommended it for fatigue. So I hand delivered my results to the Pul. To get to the point, I had a heart murmur as a child (I am now only 35), which they said I 'grew out of", but I had many episodes of dizziness, fainting, and af ew times just passing out cold. They ran tests but never diagnosed me with anything. That went on until I was around 18 or so with only a few episodes of maybe dissiness or my eyes blacking out over the past 15 or so years. Should I just relax and assume my CPAP will fix everything or should I really be concerned that my childhood problems have come back to haunt me? (my initial symptoms started about 6 mths ago with fatigue, confusion and forgetfullness. My syptoms are definetly worsening. Sometimes I am so tired I could just sit down and cry. Not sleepy, but exhausted. And the palpitations started af ew months ago.)
Thanks, sorry so long!

[jenjen1]

I am a 29yr old that was told when I was 9yrs old that I  had a heart murmur.  I was never told again that I had one and I would tell dr's and they would say "No, I don't hear one!"  I was recently diagnosed with High Blood Pressure and I asked my GP if it could be related to having a heart murmur when I was younger and he told me that I must of grown out of it, b/c he didn't hear it. My gut feeling told me that something wasn't right, so I made an appt with a Cardiologist and he was shocked that nobody heard this prior and that I went this long.  I have a very strong murmur. After the sonogram they diagnosed me with VSD. My cardiologist told me that it does really take a trained ear to hear a murmur. From my experience I do suggest you see a cardiologist just to be on the safe side. I can't imagine where I would be right now if I hadn't gone with my gut.  Today I was told that my 3yr daughter also has a murmur, so we are headed to a pediatric specialist. I feel so much better that we are getting answers now.

[PikaPika88]

If you feel like to cry, I'll come with you.  Sometime, I just hope I can unconcious and don't have to suffer that much of unwelcome exhaust and palpitations.  Sitting down doesn't help.  I need to lay down.  After the blur vision (dizzyness), my palpitation 100% will all gone completely. But very exhausting and the palp. will come back shortly!  I can share you pain here.

[Cleveland Clinic]

daylight,

Great name for a night time question.

This is most likely not related at all to your childhood murmmer. Murmmers are very common in younger kids, and also in the entire population. Bradycardia is very common in patients with sleep apnea as well as many patients while they sleep. Things like heart block can also occur in patients with sleep apnea due to changes in vagal tone while sleeping. In the absence of symptoms and a normal heart exam there is no further workup needed except to treat the sleep apnea.  

Good luck