About 50 percent to 80 percent of people living with atrial fibrillation (AFib) also have sleep apnea, though many don’t know that they have a sleep disorder. In some cases, sleep apnea may contribute to AFib, a type of arrhythmia (an irregular heartbeat).

Doctors have a few theories on how sleep apnea causes AFib. However, a likely reason is that people’s bodies gets less oxygen during pauses in breathing while they sleep. Repeatedly stopping breathing at night can trigger stress-like changes in the body that may damage the heart and blood vessels over time and raise the risk of heart disease.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is one of the most common treatments for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a type of sleep apnea that happens when the tissues in the throat relax, close, and cut off your airflow as you sleep. A CPAP machine generates a continuous stream of air that enters the airway through a mask that’s worn to bed. The air helps keep airways open so you a person can sleep with steadier breathing and fewer drops in oxygen and wake-ups.

Using a CPAP machine every night could lead to fewer AFib episodes. Here, we review six facts on how it might help.

1. CPAP May Reduce AFib Incidence

New research suggests that using CPAP to manage your sleep apnea could reduce the likelihood of developing AFib.

In a 2025 study, fewer than 4 percent of people with OSA who used CPAP developed AFib, compared to nearly 12 percent of people with untreated OSA. The researchers said the result was borderline statistically significant, meaning it could have been due to chance.

To get the best results from your CPAP machine for both sleep apnea and AFIB, consistency is key. That means using your CPAP machine every night.

Early results from the same study show that CPAP therapy may lower the risk of life-threatening cardiovascular events like pulmonary embolism and stroke, but more research is needed to confirm if this is true.

2. Combining CPAP With AFib Treatments Improves Results

Using a CPAP machine for sleep apnea could help make other AFib treatments more effective. For example, people who’ve had catheter ablation — a procedure that targets the heart’s misfiring electrical signals — may be less likely to have AFib return if they also use CPAP consistently.

That’s because untreated sleep apnea can strain the heart and disrupt its rhythms, increasing the risk that AFib will come back. By managing both conditions together, you may improve your chances of reducing future episodes.

3. Sleep Apnea Treatment May Make AFib Medications More Effective

When sleep apnea is well managed, AFib medications may work better for some people. For many people, this means using CPAP therapy, as it’s the gold standard sleep apnea treatment.

“My first cardio doc suggested that my AFIB was likely a result of sleep apnea. My CPAP machine has allowed me a normal quality of life.”

— A MyHeartDiseaseTeam Member

Besides CPAP, many common sleep apnea treatments can help support heart health. Your healthcare provider might recommend regular exercise, healthy eating, specific sleeping positions, and weight management to reduce the severity of both sleep apnea and AFib. Most doctors also recommend taking steps to stop smoking if you smoke.

4. CPAP Consistency Is Key

To get the best results from your CPAP machine for both sleep apnea and AFib, consistency is key. That means using your CPAP machine every night, even if you’re still adjusting to its sounds or the sensation of wearing a mask.

MyHeartDiseaseTeam members talk about the changes they’ve noticed when using a CPAP machine every night:

• “I have had sleep apnea for years, and I have used a CPAP for years. I can’t sleep without it anymore.”
• “My first cardio doc suggested that my AFib was likely a result of sleep apnea. My CPAP machine has allowed me a normal quality of life.”
• “I have had a CPAP since 2017. I sleep well on the machine. I didn’t think it did much until I spent a four-day weekend in Tucson. I left the machine at home and did not sleep much at all!”

If you have any trouble using or adjusting to your CPAP machine, talk to your healthcare provider. They can give you tips for the adjustment period or help you try out different machines or masks that may work better for you. If you still have trouble, alternative sleep apnea treatments like oral appliance therapy might be available.

5. Consistent CPAP Use Could Lower Your Healthcare Costs

A study from the Journal of the American Heart Association explored healthcare costs among people with both sleep apnea and AFib. Researchers found that those who adhered to their CPAP treatments had significantly lower healthcare costs than those who didn’t stick with CPAP treatment. This remained true even when costs related to OSA treatment weren’t counted.

Additionally, people who stuck with CPAP treatment had fewer heart-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations. While these results are promising, researchers note that the people who were consistent with their CPAP treatment were also more likely to be consistent with other healthy behaviors that may have contributed to these positive health outcomes, like healthy eating and regular exercise.

6. More Research Is Needed

Although some large studies have shown that CPAP can help with AFib episodes, others have conflicting results. CPAP might not improve AFib in everyone. In one study, CPAP therapy didn’t significantly reduce AFib events in participants compared to their usual care.

The researchers noted that future research should explore whether people with specific types of sleep apnea with AFib could benefit from CPAP treatment, or if CPAP should only treat more severe sleep apnea with AFib.

It’s important to get personalized care recommendations when living with both sleep apnea and AFib at the same time. You may have different needs than someone else who has both diagnoses, depending on the type of sleep apnea you have, how severe it is, and your symptoms.

Talk to Your Doctor

If you have AFib and think you might also have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor. If you haven’t been diagnosed with sleep apnea but have sleep apnea symptoms like daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, snoring, or high blood pressure, your doctor might refer you for polysomnography (a sleep study) to monitor you while you sleep.

If you have sleep apnea and AFib, your doctor can determine if CPAP is the right treatment for you. They can also tell you about your CPAP options. There are many types of CPAP machines with various features to help you breathe comfortably. You might need to try more than one before finding one that feels like the right fit for your needs.

Join the Conversation

On MyHeartDiseaseTeam, people share their experiences with heart disease, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Have you noticed any differences in your heart health after using CPAP? Let others know in the comments below.