People with asthma already face difficulty breathing. Now,
recent research finds that the strain on the lungs could come from two separate
conditions.
According to the findings of the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort
Study, patients with asthma are nearly 40 percent more likely to develop sleep apnea. The
study also showed that the risk of sleep apnea increased in patients who had
lived with asthma longer.
Sleep apnea and asthma can both lead to shortness of breath.
While apnea episodes occur when breathing is interrupted during sleep, asthma
is characterized by narrowed airways and mucus buildup that makes it difficult
to breathe.
Symptoms of asthma might include:
- “Attacks” accompanied by shortness of breath and coughing
- Tightness or pain in the chest
- Wheezing breath
- Breathing problems that interrupt sleep
- Attacks or worsening symptoms after exercising, at work, or around potential allergens
The Wisconsin study didn’t identify a causal link between
asthma and sleep apnea. However, because the research indicates that apnea risk
grows substantially over time in people with asthma, it’s important to be aware
of changes in breathing and sleeping habits, as well as daytime energy levels.
For more information about the potentially life-threatening
risks of sleep apnea, please contact
a local specialist or call 1 (866)
727-6275 (1-8-NO-PAP-MASK)
today.