Sleep Apnea Treatment

Question by Barney Blake: Best Friend Denies Heart Problem…?
My best friend (age 52) had a heart attack 2 years ago. After that time, he quit smoking, but refused to follow any of the other medical advice given to him.
In the past year, he has gained about 100 lbs, he has pitting edema in his arms and legs, abdominal distention, shortness of breath, crackles and wheezes when laying down, suffers from long periods of sleep apnea, has clubbing of his fingernails, pale skin, he sweats profusely after little exertion, he can only walk 100 feet before having to take a rest, and his resting pulse averages about 100 beats per minute. He is on blood pressure medicine, though his pressure is all over the place even with the meds.
Due to his prior heart attack, he has a stress test every year, and he just had one in July which said everything was okay.
But, being a nursing student, I see the signs of impending doom, I don’t know why the stress test would be inaccurate, but why would a doctor dismiss all the signs and symptoms because one test was okay? I have insisted to my friend to go for a second opinion, but he trusts his doctor and flat out refuses to believe that anything is wrong.
So, am I correct that this is right sided heart failure? How long can these symptoms go on before he has major damage? What exactly will happen if he doesn’t get treatment (besides the obvious answer of death)?

Best answer:

Answer by duparq
It sounds too as if he might be diabetic as he seems to have, at least, prediabetic health signs. Needless to say that your friend is foolish but as we all are our own executioners then allow him to follow his own chosen path to the gallows. He probably appreciates your friendship but not your advice; to him you are only the ‘carpenter’s son’!

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Question by jenny: diagnose me please heart palpitations vasovagel syncope sleep apnea frequent hiccups?
I think there is definitely something wrong with me, and I am trying to search the internet to see if I can find anything to help or if anyone can help me.
Here are my issues:
A few nights ago I started having trouble falling asleep. It feels like as soon as my body starts to fall asleep, I stop breathing thus causing me to wake up. This will happen several times before I actually fall asleep. I dont think I have sleep apnea because once I am sleeping I dont think I have any issues breathing. Also, I have difficulty swallowing as I am trying to fall asleep.
When I was a child (maybe 8 years old) I was diagnosed with Vasovagel syncope, causing me to faint for various reasons. I havent actually fainted in several years because I’ve had enough experiences so I know what to avoid. I do however still experience feeling faint if I get up too quickly or if I dont eat for a few hours.
Since I was about 15, I’ve had heart palpitations on a somewhat regular basis and I also get the hiccups on a very regular basis, usually occurring multiple times a day, every day. The hiccups are not brought on by eating/drinking in my case.
I should probably mention I’m only 22.
Anyways, I’m hoping someone will know something to help me because I can not afford health insurance at this time. I dont know if any of my symptoms are related, but I sure would love to find out. Any information is greatly appreciated!!!

Best answer:

Answer by roughedges
webmd had a good site to look up your symptoms

How much caffeine do you drink? coffee, tea, energy drinks?

anything going on that is stressing you more than normal?

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Question by vampo: waking up with heart racing and not knowing were i am for a couple min (sleep apnea?) maybe?
im a 23 year old male …this usually happens about once a month but its really scary and no exaggerating my heart rate is over 200 bpm when this happens and i cant think of anything for about 30 to 2 min .. cant think of my name or were i am ..but never last more then 2 min …i do strongly belive i have sleep apnea bad but i dont have incurance so i cant get any test done … dose this sound like sleep apnea ? i just get worried im going to have a heart attack from one of these

Best answer:

Answer by Cergio S
This sounds like a classic example of a BP Spike ( blood pressure spike ) The racing heart beat goe’s along with this. You being nervous over it and the heart races more.. You probably have high blood pressure and its on occasion spiking and going even higher.. This is your call to go see a doctor.. You need to see a doctor and get on meds or next time it happens go to the ER and they will tell you whats up..

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Question by vampo: Waking up heart racing not knowing were i am (sleep apnea?) mabe?
im a 23 year old male …this usually happens about once a month but its really scary and no exaggerating my heart rate is over 200 bpm when this happens and i cant think of anything for about 30 sec to 2 min .. cant think of my name or were i am ..but never last more then 2 min …i do strongly belive i have sleep apnea bad but i dont have incurance so i cant get any test done … dose this sound like sleep apnea ? i just get worried im going to have a heart attack from one of these

Best answer:

Answer by shining_epiphany
Doesn’t sound like sleep apnea. Sounds more like a nightmare, or sleep terrors.

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Question by miraclethree: Can a sleep clinic diagnosis heart problems? (please note, sleep apnea is NOT the problem)?
My three year old niece was sent to a sleep clinic because sleep apnea was suspected. After the test the nurse told her mother she saw no signs of it. A few days later she received a call that she must come in April 9 to discuss some serious results. My niece has a heart murmur so we’re wondering if the test could have detected problems with her heat.

Best answer:

Answer by Lindsey G
I think you are better off going to a cardiologist

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