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Can Sleep Apnea Cause Arrhythmia?
Question: Hello My name is XXXXXXX
I am 23 and a bit over weight and I have suffered from Severe GAD and panic disorder for 8 years. I was on the SSRI Luvox for 7 years 2006-2013 and Strattera 2008-2010 and I stopped last year and went on Anafranil which I have now stopped. Currently I am on no Anti-depressant.
About 3 and a half weeks ago I started minor chest pains and anxiety attacks, after that i could see my pulse through my skin on my chest. Obviously I was a bit scared so I went to the hospital and told them what is going on, they gave me two ECG's and everything came out normal. A week later I went to my doctor and he referred me to a cardiologist for peace of mind for my anxiety, The Cardiologist gave me another ECG test and everything was once again perfect. He then gave me a holter monitor to check for Arrhythmia, a couple of days later he asked me to come in about my holter monitor results and he said everything during the day was fine but at night I had frequent sinus pauses, my longest one was 5 seconds, he then gave me another holter monitor in case those results were wrong and once again it said I still had sinus pauses going on while I was asleep my longest one was 7 seconds, he also mentioned I don't need a pacemaker. I had a echocardiagram done along with a CT scan on my heart and everything was normal. Yesterday I went back to see my cardiologist and he said he thinks it might be Sleep Apnea. but I am confused cause I always thought Sleep apnea stops you from breathing and doesn't exactly stop your heart. I am due to do a sleep test next week to find out what is wrong and why this is happening. I am very anxious that I will die in my sleep and I am afraid to go to sleep at night. What exactly could it be? Because during the day the holter said my heart beat is perfect, Im not fainting or having any dizziness either and the chest pains aren’t there anymore along with the back pains, could that of been anxiety? And I don't get easily puffed out when exercising. I am wondering is it Arrhythmia? And can Sleep Apnoea cause your heart to stop for a couple of seconds while sleeping?
I am 23 and a bit over weight and I have suffered from Severe GAD and panic disorder for 8 years. I was on the SSRI Luvox for 7 years 2006-2013 and Strattera 2008-2010 and I stopped last year and went on Anafranil which I have now stopped. Currently I am on no Anti-depressant.
About 3 and a half weeks ago I started minor chest pains and anxiety attacks, after that i could see my pulse through my skin on my chest. Obviously I was a bit scared so I went to the hospital and told them what is going on, they gave me two ECG's and everything came out normal. A week later I went to my doctor and he referred me to a cardiologist for peace of mind for my anxiety, The Cardiologist gave me another ECG test and everything was once again perfect. He then gave me a holter monitor to check for Arrhythmia, a couple of days later he asked me to come in about my holter monitor results and he said everything during the day was fine but at night I had frequent sinus pauses, my longest one was 5 seconds, he then gave me another holter monitor in case those results were wrong and once again it said I still had sinus pauses going on while I was asleep my longest one was 7 seconds, he also mentioned I don't need a pacemaker. I had a echocardiagram done along with a CT scan on my heart and everything was normal. Yesterday I went back to see my cardiologist and he said he thinks it might be Sleep Apnea. but I am confused cause I always thought Sleep apnea stops you from breathing and doesn't exactly stop your heart. I am due to do a sleep test next week to find out what is wrong and why this is happening. I am very anxious that I will die in my sleep and I am afraid to go to sleep at night. What exactly could it be? Because during the day the holter said my heart beat is perfect, Im not fainting or having any dizziness either and the chest pains aren’t there anymore along with the back pains, could that of been anxiety? And I don't get easily puffed out when exercising. I am wondering is it Arrhythmia? And can Sleep Apnoea cause your heart to stop for a couple of seconds while sleeping?
Brief Answer:
Sleep study to be done...
Detailed Answer:
Hi Dan!
I read your query and understood your concerns. I'm so sorry for the situations you are in.
Based on the data you provided it looks like sleep disorders. Sleep apnea is very common in patients with cardiac problems and it can be associated with cardiac arrhythmia and pauses. This is why i suggest to wait till the sleep study is done. If the results are positive than I recommend using CPAP machine. This will improve your symptoms.
Sleep apnea some times in the past has been misdiagnosed as anxiety and anxiety in most of cases worsen arrhythmia and other symptoms of sleep apnea. This is why i persist in performing sleep study as soon as possible to rule in / or out this treatable diagnosis.
Hope this was of help!
Dr. Benard
Sleep study to be done...
Detailed Answer:
Hi Dan!
I read your query and understood your concerns. I'm so sorry for the situations you are in.
Based on the data you provided it looks like sleep disorders. Sleep apnea is very common in patients with cardiac problems and it can be associated with cardiac arrhythmia and pauses. This is why i suggest to wait till the sleep study is done. If the results are positive than I recommend using CPAP machine. This will improve your symptoms.
Sleep apnea some times in the past has been misdiagnosed as anxiety and anxiety in most of cases worsen arrhythmia and other symptoms of sleep apnea. This is why i persist in performing sleep study as soon as possible to rule in / or out this treatable diagnosis.
Hope this was of help!
Dr. Benard
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Is it possible I could die in my sleep cause of this? cause im actually afraid of going to sleep now, my cardiologist said its ''unlikely'' I have organised a sleep apnea test on the 19th of December.
Brief Answer:
You shouldn't worry about that...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back XXXXXXX
I would like to say you shouldn't worry about that. You have the same risk (probability) of dying in your sleep as other normal people (without your problems).
I would like to suggest to be relaxed and try to sleep because this will help your overall physical and psychological health.
You have to wait for the sleep study result, till than you have nothing to worry about.
Wish you health!
Dr. Benard
You shouldn't worry about that...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back XXXXXXX
I would like to say you shouldn't worry about that. You have the same risk (probability) of dying in your sleep as other normal people (without your problems).
I would like to suggest to be relaxed and try to sleep because this will help your overall physical and psychological health.
You have to wait for the sleep study result, till than you have nothing to worry about.
Wish you health!
Dr. Benard
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Hi Doc
I found out my cardiologist booked an appointment with me with another cardiologist too see if I need an EPS done. I am wondering if that is needed seeing as during the day I am fine and don't have any signs of Arrhythmia? The sinus pauses only happen at night and that's it.
I found out my cardiologist booked an appointment with me with another cardiologist too see if I need an EPS done. I am wondering if that is needed seeing as during the day I am fine and don't have any signs of Arrhythmia? The sinus pauses only happen at night and that's it.
Brief Answer:
If the sleep study will be normal, then you need to do EPS...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back again,
If the sleep study will be normal, then you need to do EPS to find out the electro-physiologic background of sinus pause.
However EPS need some time to be planed and you will do it after the sleep study. So you can plan it in advance.
Wish you health!
DR. Benard
If the sleep study will be normal, then you need to do EPS...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back again,
If the sleep study will be normal, then you need to do EPS to find out the electro-physiologic background of sinus pause.
However EPS need some time to be planed and you will do it after the sleep study. So you can plan it in advance.
Wish you health!
DR. Benard
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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