Posted by Thomas/Munich (195.27.213.20) on February 27, 2001 at 15:43:51:
In Reply to: New here and in need of help posted by Stacey on February 27, 2001 at 12:03:39:
Dear Stacey,
meanwhile it's well known that sleep apnea (=s.a.)can cause a CH-similar syndrome ! During a sleep apnea you completely stop breathing for about 30 to 60 sec, after that you start with a massive hyperventilation for other 10 to 30 sec, in com-pensation.
s.a. also causes severe damages of the heart and the lungs, i.e. a pulmonary hypertension, in the long run.
Look for a "sleep lab" in your neighbourhood, uni-
versity clinics usually have one, there they can confirm or rule out a s.a.
If your diagnosis is right, you will need a special breathing machine during the sleep (don't panic, its handling is very simple and you get used to it easily), a so called "CPAP", and your CH will disappear and you will get no pulmonary hypertension, hopefully.
Wish you ATB ! Thomas