Is there a relation with bp and sleep apnea??
I wake up quite often gasping for air.

I would doubt it, Mary. Sleep apnea has more to do with the structure of your throat and surrounding tissues. Perhaps you are experiencing nighttime panic attacks (like I do, too)?

I know for sure there is with weight and since alot of meds cause weight gain alot of BPers have apnea. I have it pretty bad they say but since I was young and have lost plenty of weight two years ago that it should have gotten milder if it was weight.

A lot of meds can cause relaxation of the muscles in the throat too. I have recently been to the doctor to talk about waking up in the night.

C-PAP machines are primarily used to ensure that you don't stop breathing while you are sleeping~~it forces a constant air flow into your lungs.

My mom has sleep apnea and uses a C-PAP but she also suffers from cardiac arrythmia~~specifically atrial fibrillation. If she stop breathing even for a few seconds her heart can go into an irregular heartbeat or her heart could stop beating altogether.

My mom's machine has been adjusted a number of times, too. In fact, adjustments are very common because our body's needs change and often the need for adjustments for my mom seem to be seasonable. Sinus and allergy issues or colds can make using the machine difficult.

I would say that if you are getting a solid four or five hours of sleep without interruption the C-PAP is working for you. How long we sleep is a different issue altogether.

oh yeah, been on my CPAP for almost five years. I think its just that as manic depressives we tend to self medicate long before being dx'd so maybe its that.

I have COPD/asthma/emphysema/chronic bronchitis too, so the cpap has been a Godsend for me ;)