Friday, September 4, 2009

Sleep apnea and peripheral edema

Do your legs swell at night while you are sleeping? Do you also suffer from sleep apnea? You might have peripheral edema and it could be connected to sleep apnea.

Peripheral edema is where fluid gathers in the lower limbs. Some of the causes of it are getting older, congestive heart failure, drinking and hypertension among other things. This can be a very serious condition that needs immediate doctor’s care.

A treatment for this ailment is made by treating the underlying causes. If there is swelling due to infections then antibiotics are uses, whereas if the problem is heart disease then diuretics are used. Diuretics are well known among Meniere’s disease patients as a source of removing fluid from the inner ear.

From what I have read there seems to be a connection between sleep apnea and leg edema. In an article in the Pulmonary Review, Doctor Robert Blankfield suggests that it is common to see patients with leg edema also have sleep apnea.

I haven’t ever experienced leg swelling but my father who also had sleep apnea and heart disease did have swelling in his legs. So if you have peripheral edema might sure to check it out with your doctor. You might also have sleep apnea.

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1 comment:

  1. OMG! I have been dealing with this since May of 2011. I didn't start swelling untill about 4 weeks using the C-Pap.
    Doctors have argued that there is a connection. All my blood work is negative. Heart is good.
    Stopped using C-pap, swelling is very little.
    Now I have a new problem. Joints are so stiff.

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