Sleep Apnea and Asthma

[wmcanally]

I have received a lot of great info on here. I cant begin to thank everyone enough. I was encouraged to do my homework, research etc..... Another Question? How does the CPAP machine work with people who also suffer from Asthma. My Asthma is well controlled ( unless i get a bad chest cold) I take Advair once a day in the morning. Very very seldom use the rescue inhaler. Maybe of i go a day or 2 off the advair i may have to take a inhalation.

Just curious is there would be any issues. My Sleep Dr is aware i have asthma.

Thank you

[early2rise]

I have received a lot of great info on here. I cant begin to thank everyone enough. I was encouraged to do my homework, research etc..... Another Question? How does the CPAP machine work with people who also suffer from Asthma. My Asthma is well controlled ( unless i get a bad chest cold) I take Advair once a day in the morning. Very very seldom use the rescue inhaler. Maybe of i go a day or 2 off the advair i may have to take a inhalation.

Just curious is there would be any issues. My Sleep Dr is aware i have asthma.

Thank you

Hi wmcannally,

I also have asthma and have been on CPAP since July. I normally have issues in the fall due to the ragweed but so far this season nothing. Now that is getting cooler, I am noticing less sinus issues as well which seem to lead into an asthma flare up for me.

Hope this helps.

[imsleepynomore]

My asthma improved after starting CPAP think the filtered clean air all night had a positive effect and according to my asthma doc he has seen an improvement in several of his asthma pt when using CPAP all that clean filtered air

[chunkyfrog]

No asthma here; but allergies massively improved.
Is CPAP a magic bullet--or what?

[Janknitz]

It's great for asthma and if you get bronchitis it really helps. I can sleep comfortably all night without coughing or wheezing.

[Mary Z]

This is good information, a question frequesntly asked. Thanks for yourr helpful responses and glad the CPAP seems to help.

[stevos2000]

I also have asthma and use Advair in the morning and take a Singulair in the evening to help with congestion. I've been on CPAP for abut 2 1/2 months now and have had to make a couple of adjustments due to my asthma. First, I need to use the maximum exhilation relief pressure (autoflex = 3 on my machine) in order to be comfortable breathing during the night, as well as a fairly high humidifier setting (4 out of 5). Also, even though I use a chin strap, I do have mouth leaks and coughing episodes during the night. Leaks are something I have to live with, since my attempts to tape resulted in my waking up choking (during a coughing episode). Leaks aren't really a problem for me, since I don't seem to suffer from obstructive or desaturation events (even before CPAP) but mostly from non-apnea related arousal events. From an apnea point of view I probably could run with a lower pressure than I do (currently a min of 10 and a max of 14) but seem to need at least 10 to get enough air in through my nose to breath. Structurally I have a very narrow passage in my nose as well as a deviated septum, so I am out of luck as a nose breather without the higher pressures. Nor can I use the ramp feature, since I need to go right to the higher pressure. In the waking world I'm stuck as a mouth breather during any strenuous activity, which is probably why I developed asthma in the first place (bringing in all that unfiltered and unheated air over those many decades). CPAP does help me, since it does allow me to breath heated moist air through my nose during the night. What I really need is a CPAP machine I can use during the day as well!

[minniesc]

I am fairly new to CPAP so this is my first fall on my machine. I have severe asthma only during the fall/winter months and am on various inhalers and treatments. I caught a respitory infection over a month ago and cannot get my asthma under control. My dr. took me off CPAP a week ago, since she is concerned the pressure irritated the asthma even more, and I am off until the inflamation goes down in my lungs, which has started to help. However, I do notice a much more positive change with CPAP for my allergies; no waking up with that stuffy nose feeling and heavy head. Can't wait to be back on my CPAP, hopefully in one more week.

[cflame1]

When I was on CPAP and APAP I couldn't use the FLEX as it felt like I was wheezing. Now on Bipap I can use BiFlex without that same feeling.

Normally my asthma is very controlled without a lot of medication. It's more of an avoidance thing with me unless I get some respiratory infection thing going on... and with those, my machine works really well.