Impact of allergies or asthma on OSA!!!!!!!!!!

curtcurt46 · Post by **curtcurt46** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 1:46 pm

Has anyone read or seen any reports or research on the effects of allergies and or asthma on increasing the hypopnea and apnea events.

Earlier this year ( Jan-Feb) when I had bad allergies and mild asthma, I experienced very high AHI numbers. My guess is that my airway was compromised by the allergies and this caused more obstructions. My normal numbers would be about 2.7 to 3.5 with an occasional jump to 5.0. The numbers with the bad allergies/ asthma were 12 - 16 AHI. After I got better from the allergies my numbers went back to normal. Back then, I wasn't looking at my stats very closely and that's why I didn't think of this issue until now.
Many thanks for any thoughts or reports to read.

Curtcurt46

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 1:56 pm

curtcurt46 wrote:Earlier this year ( Jan-Feb) when I had bad allergies and mild asthma, I experienced very high AHI numbers. My guess is that my airway was compromised by the allergies and this caused more obstructions.

I think you're exacty right, Curt.

rustynail · Post by **rustynail** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 2:00 pm

Wow, you know, this is a really interesting question. Unfortunately I sit here in Germany with a really ancient cpap and I have no way of checking what actually happens whenever I am lucky enough to get any sleep. I suppose that it is about time I get more informed about the xpaps available here and do something about getting a new one... I have been very lax concerning any follow ups I should have had, just the thought makes me sick to my stomach since I spend so much time with my kid in a specialty clinic for him...

Since I do have allergies I will keep checking to see what information you get, thanks for posting this question.

Maryb · Post by **Maryb** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 2:04 pm

actually I have found that my allergies have gotten better what with that warm humidified filtered air being blown up my nose every night. Also, the nightly nasal rinse that I do now probably helps the allergies as well.
However, when my sinuses get congested, my AHI does go up.

Maryb

curtcurt46 · Post by **curtcurt46** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 3:16 pm

Here is a link to Asthma and OSA.

http://www.sleepapnea.org/resources/pub ... a-osa.html

I am still looking for allergies and osa.

arthuranxious · Post by **arthuranxious** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 9:47 pm

My current line of worry is that the Advair which I take for asthma works by easing tension and relaxing the airways. I wonder if it could exacerbate OSA since OSa is often from the airway dropping to close down in sleep.... It is scary, but does not seem to be a known problem. Afraid my doc will dismiss the whole idea

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 12:40 am

Rusty,
The least you can do at this point, if you aren't doing it already, is to add the second filter to you machine.

I found that my sleep got better when I added the thin filter.

CPAP can't open clogged airways - only collapsed ones.

Arthur,
As far as I know, asthma is a spasm of the airways, not letting you breath out. The spasm happens much further down along the track in the brochioles. (from Wikipedia: "During an asthma episode, inflamed airways react to environmental triggers such as smoke, dust, or pollen. The airways narrow and produce excess mucus, making it difficult to breathe.") http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asthma#Bronchoconstriction

The obstuctions causing sleep apnea happen in the back of your throat - tongue dropping back, palate drooping. Have you ever read of that as being a side effect of Advair?

O.

CollegeGirl · Post by **CollegeGirl** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:57 am

Arthur, I take Advair also, and have no problems with it.

curtcurt46 · Post by **curtcurt46** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:10 am

CollegeGirl,
I think I have mild seasonal asthma. This is something I need to get checked out.
What happens with your cpap therapy if you don't use you Advair?
Thanks for any comments.

curtcurt46

whatrdreamsmadeof · Post by **whatrdreamsmadeof** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:58 pm

I have seasonal allergies and asthma too, I am also on advair year round to help with breathing as it is not a medication for instant relief, but one that builds up in your system........When I go to bed I want to be breathing the best I can before I put on the mask and machine. going without the advair would be like starting with a deficit in breathing and then expecting the cpap treatment to fix it. This is just my thoughts on the subject but it makes sense to me

CollegeGirl · Post by **CollegeGirl** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 5:18 pm

curt,
I'm not sure, as I have year-round asthma, and so therefore take advair year-round.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 5:31 pm

whatdreamsmadeof,
Sometimes when I feel I have asthma (tightness in the chest) and I use the cpap I to would describe it as starting with a deficit. That is a good way to describe it. Thanks for the comments. I will be paying close attention to my situation.
curtcuurt46

Impact of allergies or asthma on OSA!!!!!!!!!!

Impact of allergies or asthma on OSA!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Impact of allergies or asthma on OSA!!!!!!!!!!

Interesting article

just my thoughts