OSA plus seasonal allergies

[Lineman]

Here is a suggestion if you have both OSA and seasonal allergies. Use a recording APAP and check your apnea incident rate at different times during the year. You may find your need for the APAP/CPAP will vary with the season even if you don't otherwise notice an allergic reaction. That is my situation. I am allergic to grasses and have been diagnosed with OSA. For half the year (late winter, spring, early summer) when grasses are growing, I have to use my APAP to get a good nights sleep. The rest of the year, I don't need to use my APAP at all.

[Julie]

Just because you "feel" better during those times doesn't mean you don't need Apap! Or if you don't believe me, get a new sleep study to coincide with the season that you don't 'think' you need it. Having allergies may make it worse in the other times, but it doesn't mean it's gone when you aren't aware of the allergies.

[Hawthorne]

I have seasonal allergies as well. I look at my cpap data every day (all seasons). It is no worse or better when the allegens are not present.

For me, my seasonal allergies have not effect on my sleep apnea at all.

[Muse-Inc]

Ditto what Hawthorne posted...no effect

[cflame1]

I agree with Julie and Hawthorne...

You may think that because your sinuses (or throat) are clear that you aren't having apnea problems... but you should get another study when it's not allergy season in order to prove this. Chances are that you are still having the problems, you just don't realize it.

[Lineman]

Okay then, I agree that I'm probably still experiencing apnea during the "off" periods. That isn't the point ... for me. I believe my quality of life is better when I don't have to use the machine to get an adequate nights sleep. Not being tied to CPAP use is the normal state in case you have forgotten that. I want to be "normal" more than I want a perfect nights sleep. I try to live an active life; the freedom of sleeping anywhere anytime w/o the machine is important to me. As long as I feel ok not using the CPAP, I will strive to stay that way. If you believe you must use the machine forever, once you start using it, I feel you are denying yourself a chance at a normal life.

[Breathe Jimbo]

Needlessly sleeping in a way that tends to cause high blood pressure, strokes, heart failure, obesity, depression and other psych problems, etc. may feel "normal" for now at times, but you are deluding yourself if you think that leads to a better life. Rather, it will shorten your life and make your later years much more sickly. That, in my opinion, is just plain stupid if you can easily avoid it, regardless of whether you feel it not.

Okay, Jimbo, now practice what you preach and lose 50 pounds.