Do Allergies Cause Sleep Apnea?

[Enchanter]

That I must know. This is a paradox to me. I need to get better someway, somehow. WHY MUST I CONTINUE TO SUFFER? I don't know if the CPAP will work, I hope it does, but doctor is still reviewing........ And last time I told him if I could see the allergist and he got scared and told me no, just like how he refused to give me a sleeping pill.

But how exactly are allergies and sleep apnea related? Do allergies make it more likely you have sleep apnea? DO they CAUSE sleep apnea indirectly?

I had allergies since I was born. My allergy symptoms have improved since I was little because I did shots for a long time. I'd like to go back on them regardless, but doctor says no. But keep in mind, my health symptoms were bad even when I was on the shots. I mean I was healthy and unhealthy on the shots, through different time periods, so obviously the shots cannot save me by themselves, even if somehow I can convince the doctor to let me go back. My health plan says I'm covered for it, but the doctor is making things complicated and they are calling him now but haven't back to me.

Around 2 am is when I feel the most stuffed. And my throat feels a little itchy around that time, I experience cough and mucus usually in the mornings. Right now I don't feel stuffed because I am using a nasal spray. But it doesn't change the fact that I have head pain 24 7 and that's with or without a stuffed nose. I want to know the relationship allergies have with sleep apnea. The tech talked about allergies a lot and so there has to be a connection.

[49er]

Great question Enchanter.

Here is a link to get you started:

http://doctorstevenpark.com/allergy-sol ... -sufferers

More links:

https://www.google.com/#q=allergies+sleep+apnea

Do you need a referral to see an allergist? If you don't, I would just make the appointment on your own since it seems like you need an evaluation.

49er

That I must know. This is a paradox to me. I need to get better someway, somehow. WHY MUST I CONTINUE TO SUFFER? I don't know if the CPAP will work, I hope it does, but doctor is still reviewing........ And last time I told him if I could see the allergist and he got scared and told me no, just like how he refused to give me a sleeping pill.

But how exactly are allergies and sleep apnea related? Do allergies make it more likely you have sleep apnea? DO they CAUSE sleep apnea indirectly?

I had allergies since I was born. My allergy symptoms have improved since I was little because I did shots for a long time. I'd like to go back on them regardless, but doctor says no. But keep in mind, my health symptoms were bad even when I was on the shots. I mean I was healthy and unhealthy on the shots, through different time periods, so obviously the shots cannot save me by themselves, even if somehow I can convince the doctor to let me go back. My health plan says I'm covered for it, but the doctor is making things complicated and they are calling him now but haven't back to me.

Around 2 am is when I feel the most stuffed. And my throat feels a little itchy around that time, I experience cough and mucus usually in the mornings. Right now I don't feel stuffed because I am using a nasal spray. But it doesn't change the fact that I have head pain 24 7 and that's with or without a stuffed nose. I want to know the relationship allergies have with sleep apnea. The tech talked about allergies a lot and so there has to be a connection.

[Julie]

Hard as it is, I think you know that until you're on Cpap you won't know the answers to your questions, but have been reassured many times that a lot will come clear at that time... very many of us have seen our allergies (at least respiratory ones) either disappear entirely, or certainly improve to a great extent on Cpap (as should your pressure headaches). All this speculation is doing nothing but adding to your anxiety. Your doctor should know better than to drag things out however, and once you get set up I strongly suggest you find another one.

[Darth Lady]

Hard as it is, I think you know that until you're on Cpap you won't know the answers to your questions, but have been reassured many times that a lot will come clear at that time... very many of us have seen our allergies (at least respiratory ones) either disappear entirely, or certainly improve to a great extent on Cpap (as should your pressure headaches). All this speculation is doing nothing but adding to your anxiety. Your doctor should know better than to drag things out however, and once you get set up I strongly suggest you find another one.

And in the meantime, when s/he tells you that you can't do something, like see the allergist or have a sleeping pill, you need to tell him "I need you to tell me exactly why you are giving me this advice." Write down the answer, or have friend/family do so, and repeat it back: "So, you are telling me it is not a good idea for me to see the allergist because..., etc." If your doctor has concerns, s/he doesn't seem to be communicating them to you in a way that you can make sense of. You need to be able to communicate with your doctor or you will not get proper care.

Hopefully once you are on therapy, your allergy symptoms will reduce, as you will be breathing filtered air all night. I know it helped my allergies. Make sure that you get microfilters (the ones that look like white Tyvek; they are really micro-porous) in addition to the black spongy ones for your machine. That will remove the maximum number of particles from the air the machine takes in.

[Enchanter]

Hard as it is, I think you know that until you're on Cpap you won't know the answers to your questions, but have been reassured many times that a lot will come clear at that time... very many of us have seen our allergies (at least respiratory ones) either disappear entirely, or certainly improve to a great extent on Cpap (as should your pressure headaches). All this speculation is doing nothing but adding to your anxiety. Your doctor should know better than to drag things out however, and once you get set up I strongly suggest you find another one.

And in the meantime, when s/he tells you that you can't do something, like see the allergist or have a sleeping pill, you need to tell him "I need you to tell me exactly why you are giving me this advice." Write down the answer, or have friend/family do so, and repeat it back: "So, you are telling me it is not a good idea for me to see the allergist because..., etc." If your doctor has concerns, s/he doesn't seem to be communicating them to you in a way that you can make sense of. You need to be able to communicate with your doctor or you will not get proper care.

Hopefully once you are on therapy, your allergy symptoms will reduce, as you will be breathing filtered air all night. I know it helped my allergies. Make sure that you get microfilters (the ones that look like white Tyvek; they are really micro-porous) in addition to the black spongy ones for your machine. That will remove the maximum number of particles from the air the machine takes in.

My ideal situation would be to wear the Mask AND be able to get my allergy shots. Both will help me, I think. But the doctor was hesitant. He said he doesn't sign off on these things, and it's strange because when I ask why not he just shakes his head fast and says he doesn't do that.

[ChicagoGranny]

he just shakes his head

Do you cause that reaction in everyone?

[49er]

Hard as it is, I think you know that until you're on Cpap you won't know the answers to your questions, but have been reassured many times that a lot will come clear at that time... very many of us have seen our allergies (at least respiratory ones) either disappear entirely, or certainly improve to a great extent on Cpap (as should your pressure headaches). All this speculation is doing nothing but adding to your anxiety. Your doctor should know better than to drag things out however, and once you get set up I strongly suggest you find another one.

And in the meantime, when s/he tells you that you can't do something, like see the allergist or have a sleeping pill, you need to tell him "I need you to tell me exactly why you are giving me this advice." Write down the answer, or have friend/family do so, and repeat it back: "So, you are telling me it is not a good idea for me to see the allergist because..., etc." If your doctor has concerns, s/he doesn't seem to be communicating them to you in a way that you can make sense of. You need to be able to communicate with your doctor or you will not get proper care.

Hopefully once you are on therapy, your allergy symptoms will reduce, as you will be breathing filtered air all night. I know it helped my allergies. Make sure that you get microfilters (the ones that look like white Tyvek; they are really micro-porous) in addition to the black spongy ones for your machine. That will remove the maximum number of particles from the air the machine takes in.

My ideal situation would be to wear the Mask AND be able to get my allergy shots. Both will help me, I think. But the doctor was hesitant. He said he doesn't sign off on these things, and it's strange because when I ask why not he just shakes his head fast and says he doesn't do that.

Enchanter,

I definitely understand your frustrations with your doctor. But after my post this morning and thinking more about what Julie and Darth Lady wrote, I think you might want to wait and see if pap therapy helps your allergies as it has for many people. My thinking is if your doctor isn't going to cooperate in referring you to an allergist and there is a good chance that pap therapy will help them, why stress yourself out about this?

Now once you start pap therapy and it seems like you are still having problems with allergies, then I would push the issue again. If your doctor refuses and you need a referral from him to see someone, I would look for another doctor. If you don't, then it doesn't matter what he thinks.

49er

[jnk]

Do Allergies Cause Sleep Apnea?

Anything that affects the size, sensitivity, and/or performance of the airway can affect how you breathe during the day and especially at night. So bad allergies can be considered a factor. But they are not generally considered a lone primary cause, unless a patient just happens to be on the edge of the OSA definition and allergies just happen to provide the primary circumstance that tips the diagnosis numbers over the edge into OSA territory.

When the way you breathe at night disturbs the effectiveness of your sleep to the point that you are tired/sleepy/etc, fixing your breathing becomes a profoundly serious health issue.

Fixing allergies may make you sleep better, whether it directly affects your AHI or other related diagnostic criteria or not.

I find that breathing the filtered, humidified, pressurized air delivered by my CPAP machine all night helps my allergies a lot.

Someone with seasonal allergies may benefit from having an auto-titrating machine, since pressure needs can change during the allergy season.

[Enchanter]

Do Allergies Cause Sleep Apnea?

Anything that affects the size, sensitivity, and/or performance of the airway can affect how you breathe during the day and especially at night. So bad allergies can be considered a factor. But they are not generally considered a lone primary cause, unless a patient just happens to be on the edge of the OSA definition and allergies just happen to provide the primary circumstance that tips the diagnosis numbers over the edge into OSA territory.

When the way you breathe at night disturbs the effectiveness of your sleep to the point that you are tired/sleepy/etc, fixing your breathing becomes a profoundly serious health issue.

Fixing allergies may make you sleep better, whether it directly affects your AHI or other related diagnostic criteria or not.

I find that breathing the filtered, humidified, pressurized air delivered by my CPAP machine all night helps my allergies a lot.

Someone with seasonal allergies may benefit from having an auto-titrating machine, since pressure needs can change during the allergy season.

Thanks. That's what I was thinking. Allergies contribute, but aren't the sole cause. Now what is this about breathing filtered air? I have read people say that. Does that mean I don't need my air purifier? I don't understand fully how it works.

[jnk]

CPAP machines have replaceable filters at the point of air intake. Some machines allow for the purchase of especially fine filters that supposedly can filter out pollen along with house dust, but technically those filters should be replaced more often than the normal filters, I believe.

The humidity provided by a CPAP machine's humidifier can help sinus conditions too, especially in climates with dry winter air or inside homes with dry air-conditioned air.

[Enchanter]

CPAP machines have replaceable filters at the point of air intake. Some machines allow for the purchase of especially fine filters that supposedly can filter out pollen along with house dust, but technically those filters should be replaced more often than the normal filters, I believe.

The humidity provided by a CPAP machine's humidifier can help sinus conditions too, especially in climates with dry winter air or inside homes with dry air-conditioned air.

Oh. So how do I get that kind? I would like the filter that filter out pollen and house dust.

[ems]

That's what I was thinking. Allergies contribute, but aren't the sole cause. Now what is this about breathing filtered air? I have read people say that. Does that mean I don't need my air purifier? I don't understand fully how it works.

Yes, allergies contribute but aren't the sole cause. You can use your air purifier all year around if you want to... along with using your Cpap machine. Some CPAP machines come with two filters, some with one. Changing them monthly is probably a good idea because these little filters collect dust, which doesn't allow fresh air to get through.

I'm having a difficult time understanding why you can't change doctors. And, if I asked my doctor about seeing an allergist and was told "no", I'd change doctors fast! Just so you know, both my daughter and granddaughter have Kaiser and have changed doctors more than once. I can't imagine having a doctor who doesn't explain things to my satisfaction and/or doesn't pay attention to my needs. Keep in mind that you pay his salary, not the other way around.

No one cares about your health as much as you do. Being your own advocate for 'your' health is the only way for you to get the answers and care you need.

[ems]

he just shakes his head

Do you cause that reaction in everyone?

If you can't contribute something helpful, stay out of the thread!

[jnk]

CPAP machines have replaceable filters at the point of air intake. Some machines allow for the purchase of especially fine filters that supposedly can filter out pollen along with house dust, but technically those filters should be replaced more often than the normal filters, I believe.

The humidity provided by a CPAP machine's humidifier can help sinus conditions too, especially in climates with dry winter air or inside homes with dry air-conditioned air.

Oh. So how do I get that kind? I would like the filter that filter out pollen and house dust.

Any machine you are interested in can be researched at cpap.com to see if cpap.com offers fine filters or hypoallergenic filters for that particular machine.

(I feel free to make that shameless plug because I have no direct association with them other than occasionally buying from them. Well, that, and the fact that the owners haven't yet kicked me off this site. )

[Julie]

All machines come with the little blk filters, but you can also get the white ones that fit in behind them from Cpap.com... I seem to remember talking to you about them...