Hello to all,  

Does sleep apnea cause you to develop asthma?  It seems that I now have it and was just wondering.

Christina


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Christina Searcy

Is it possible that maybe asthma can form sleep apnea?


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-Paczki
-Micci

The same thing has just happened to me. Never had asthma, and now after 3 mos have just been told I have it.  My internist has just suggested that the CPAP causes sinusitus that then causes asthma.  He said this happens when people are hospitalized and have oxygen.  But I have searched the literature and can find no studies.  In fact the research says CPAP can help people who have asthma.  But they are not looking at CPAP causing asthma.

I did not have asthma before the sleep apnea.  If I have asthma before the doctors did not catch on.

Christina

I have asthma and was just diagnosed with sleep apnea. I have only used my CPAP for 2 night, but it seems like it has made my asthma a little worse both days, not significantly worse though.

Cyn wrote:

I have asthma and was just diagnosed with sleep apnea. I have only used my CPAP for 2 night, but it seems like it has made my asthma a little worse both days, not significantly worse though.

Are you using a humidifier?  Dry air can definately irritate your airway and trigger attacks (at least in my case)

As to the Apnea / Asthma correlation or connection.  I have not seen any study indicating that there is any cause effect with both of those ailments.  They are really 2 seperate occurrances.  One is happening in your throat, the other in your lungs.

I am using a humidifier. The first night it was just room temperature humidification and the second night it was heated humidification. After the second night it wasn't as bad. I was already having more asthma problems then usual due to congestion that had settled into my lung, but it had been getting better. It may just be a coincidence that it got a little worse after using the CPAP.

Cyn wrote:

I am using a humidifier. The first night it was just room temperature humidification and the second night it was heated humidification. After the second night it wasn't as bad. I was already having more asthma problems then usual due to congestion that had settled into my lung, but it had been getting better. It may just be a coincidence that it got a little worse after using the CPAP.

Try adjusting the humidity around...  In my case I can go as humid as I want and I don't have problems.  Some folks with asthma say that they can't handle really humid.  It will prolly take you a bit to find what works for you...