allergies and sleep apnea: how are they connected? with that in mind, the blog turns its attention to the topic of sleep apnea and allergies. the logic goes like this: allergies create nasal congestion. therefore, allergies and sleep apnea can be connected if ongoing allergic reactions are blocking your sleep on a regular basis. some allergic reactions swell the tonsils or adenoids, causing them to grow larger – again, potentially causing a blocked airway that can lead to sleep apnea. as a study published in the american review of respiratory disease stated, “in patients with allergic rhinitis, obstructive sleep apneas are longer and more frequent” than in patients without those allergic conditions.1 it follows, then, that taking steps to reduce allergic reactions can help increase the quality of sleep: “decreasing nasal congestion with nasal steroids may improve sleep, daytime fatigue, and the quality of life of patients with ar [allergic rhinitis],” as the authors of a 1998 study published in the journal of allergy and clinical immunology put it.2 most researchers stop short of actually concluding that treating allergies can prevent sleep apnea, though.
a 2011 study published in the european archives of oto-rhino-laryngology states that, while “nasal steroids could improve the subjective quality of sleep, and may be useful for patients with mild osa,” such allergy treatments are “not by themselves an adequate treatment for most osa patients.”3 however, when discussing allergies and sleep apnea, another factor often comes into play: allergic reactions can disrupt the cpap therapy often used to treat sleep apnea. manufacturers of cpap masks and sleep apnea therapy equipment have taken steps to help you get around potential problems caused by the presence of both sleep apnea and allergies. while a nasal mask only delivers air through your nose, a full face mask covers your mouth and nose, ensuring that you still receive air whether your nose is congested or not. in addition, advanced cpap technology in the form of apap – or automatic positive airway pressure, as we recently discussed – can help people who have both allergies and sleep apnea. allergies can cause your breathing to fluctuate throughout the night, and apap is designed to deliver different amounts of air as needed to keep up with those fluctuations. this blog post contains general information about medical conditions and potential treatments.
learn more our dedicated team rigorously evaluates every article and guide to ensure the information is factual, up-to-date and free of bias. these symptoms affect your ability to breathe easily and tend to worsen at night — two reasons why allergies commonly lead to poor sleep quality. people with allergies may wake up due to a congested nose, sneezing or coughing fit in the middle of the night. there also appears to be a correlation between the severity of a person’s allergies and the severity of their sleep problems. here are seven tips to cope with allergies and get better sleep.
closed windows and doors, on the other hand, can do a lot to keep allergens outside and away from your bedroom. pet hair and dander are two common allergens that impact sleep, so sleeping in a separate room from your pet may help relieve your allergies at night. this ensures the dose of medication is still strong in your system when you go to bed, instead of wearing off in the middle of the night. the sleep foundation editorial team is dedicated to providing content that meets the highest standards for accuracy and objectivity. danielle writes in-depth articles about sleep solutions and holds a psychology degree from the university of british columbia.
so, while allergies may not specifically cause sleep apnea, there does seem to be a connection. as a study published in the american review of respiratory allergic rhinitis increases the risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea by two major mechanisms: 1) increase in airway resistance due to higher nasal allergies can cause nasal congestion that makes it more difficult to breathe comfortably through the nose. this nasal congestion from seasonal, .
can allergies cause sleep apnea? allergies don’t directly cause the sleep disorder obstructive sleep apnea, but nasal congestion caused by seasonal allergies can lead to more frequent obstructions and longer pauses in breath if you have sleep apnea. yes, severe allergic reactions where the sinuses are stuffed up can cause snoring or the more serious obstructive sleep apnea. even if you’re not experiencing nasal congestion, if your allergies cause your tonsils and/or adenoids to swell, they can block your windpipe and cause sleep apnea symptoms. allergic rhinitis (nasal inflammation caused by allergies) can lead to blocked nasal passages. they can lead to snoring, or a more serious patients experiencing allergic rhinitis are adversely affected by particles in the air. after breathing these allergens in, the nasal passages become irritated allergies will make you more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea. and even though you do have this sleeping condition, they worsen the, .
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