Sleep apnea is a condition that can strike any age group and in either gender. Although the most common group is older men, children and infants are also at risk. Asthma and sleep apnea are strange bedfellows. Several studies have linked the two issues and theorize that there is a group of people with asthma and sleep apnea who are unaware of the second diagnosis.
Sleep apnea is the description of the condition where the sufferer experiences a temporary, often repeated, pause of breathing during sleep. If a person with sleep apnea has a family member that can observe them they will often witness snoring, hyper-extended head position in children, pauses in breathing and startle responses during sleep.
Other symptoms of sleep apnea include loud snoring, obesity, lack of concentration, morning headaches, excessive sleepiness during the day, frequent visits to the bathroom at night, severe mood swings, low sex drive and a general lack of energy.
If sleep apnea is left untreated it can lead to impaired mental and physical functioning as well as irritability and daytime sleepiness. The sufferer may well be confused by his sleepiness since they usually get more than 8 hours of sleep each night. Long-term side effects of untreated sleep apnea are high blood pressure, and the possibility of stroke and heart disease.
Asthma sufferers should be aware that their condition can increase their risk of obstructive sleep apnea.There have been several studies that have linked asthma and sleep apnea. Irritation of the upper airways associated with asthma may lead to decreased lung function throughout the night. Sleep disruption resulting from nocturnal asthma could result in irregular breathing and decreased activity of the muscles in the upper airway, two factors that may lead to upper airway obstruction when sleeping.
Researchers from the University of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital discovered that about 21% of young adult women with asthma habitually snored. Women who suffer from asthma are at twice the risk for developing sleep apnea according to that same study.
In another study published in Obesity Surgery journal in 2004 researchers from Canada followed over 300 patients who reported that they had both sleep apnea and asthma. Following bariatric surgery for weight loss, over 130 were resurveyed 2 years later and the researchers discovered a significant correlation between morbid obesity, asthma and sleep apnea.
In a study at the University of Cincinnati reported in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 2006 researchers discovered a high prevalence of snoring in women with atopy and asthma. People are referred to as being atopic if they have allergies to inhaled allergens that result in an increase of the antibodies IgE. In this same study the researchers also found a correlation between women with asthma and sleep apnea.
In a study reported in Sleep Medicine 2006 researchers from the Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, MI discovered that asthmatics are commonly sleepy during the day which may reflect a hidden obstructive sleep apnea that affects sleepiness more than the asthma or the asthma medications.
The human body is a complex and complicated system of organs, hormones, and transportation. It is only common sense that one condition can be associated or cause another. In this case asthma and sleep apnea are closely linked in people who are also obese. There have been studies that show weight gain also results in an increase in symptoms of asthma and sleep apnea, and weight loss has the opposite effect. It isn’t important which came first, only in determining the best course of treatment for all three medical conditions.
Resources:
Asthma and OSA-American Sleep Apnea Association
Asthma and Sleep Apnea in Patients with Morbid Obesity: Outcome after Bariatric Surgery
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