Are copd and sleep apnea related
Often people living with COPD also have sleep apnea. Having both can make managing your health a bit trickier, so let's break it down.
Understanding COPD and sleep apnea
If you’ve got COPD, you already know it can make breathing tough. The airways in your lungs get narrow, they could be clogged with mucous, and the places in your lungs where oxygen gets into your blood can be damaged. All of these things make it harder to get the air you need.
With sleep apnea, your breathing stops or gets really shallow while you're asleep. Sometimes it’s because your airway gets blocked (that's obstructive sleep apnea), and other times it’s because your brain forgets to send the signals to your lungs to breathe (that’s central sleep apnea).
Overlap syndrome
Now, here’s where things get interesting: overlap syndrome. This is when someone has both COPD and sleep apnea. And if you have both? You’re at a higher risk for things like more hospital visits, worsened symptoms, and even a higher chance of complications.
What about asthma and sleep apnea
People with asthma may also have sleep apnea. This can make asthma worse and cause more daytime tiredness. If you have asthma and notice loud snoring or feel very sleepy during the day, talk to your doctor. Treating both conditions can help you feel better. Learn more about the affects sleep apnea has in this blog post.
How sleep apnea affects COPD
Having sleep apnea if you already have COPD can make your breathing worse while you sleep. You might not even know you're stopping breathing, but your oxygen levels drop, which puts stress on your heart and can lead to more serious issues.
Treatment is key
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to just deal with it. If you’re dealing with both, treatments like CPAP (a machine that keeps your airway open) can help with sleep apnea, while oxygen therapy or pulmonary rehab can help with COPD.
There are also many medicines to treat COPD. Most people use inhalers that help open up their airways or decrease swelling. In some cases, you might need more than one inhaler. If you have a COPD flare—when symptoms suddenly, but temporarily, get worse—you may need a steroid medicine in pill form to get back on track. Getting a good night’s rest and treating both conditions properly will improve your quality of life.
What can you do?
Make sure you get checked for sleep apnea if you have COPD. Talk to your doctor about symptoms like:
- Snoring
- Waking up gasping for air
- Feeling super tired during the day
You can improve your sleep quality and your overall health by tackling both conditions head-on!
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