Are Sleep Apnea and Allergies Connected?

Spring is finally here, which means allergy season is upon us for millions of Americans. Anyone prone to pollen, dust mites, and other small debris is preparing for the worst.

Allergic rhinitis can contribute to nasal congestion, which may interfere with normal sleep patterns and increase the frequency of apneas due to airway obstruction.

However, for those who suffer from untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the season of allergy can be especially troublesome. There is no question that the two conditions and allergies are related.

Allergies will make you more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea. And even though you do have this sleeping condition, they worsen the symptoms. So, if you’re suffering from both, here’s what you need to hear about allergies and sleep apnea.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?

OSA is a type of sleep-disordered breathing caused by breathing issues, resulting in disturbed sleep. When you have this condition, the upper airway is blocked, leading to increased upper airway resistance.

The blockage can be small or large, causing you to search for air. Your brain is supposed to receive the message to breathe when this happens, but then you stop breathing when sleeping.

After not breathing, you wake up most of the time and recover your breathing pattern. This, however, disrupts your sleep and causes you to fail to reach that critical stage of deep sleep.

How Can Allergies Make OSA Even Worse?

When you sleep, nasal congestion from allergy symptoms makes it harder to breathe through your nose. Instead, you breathe through your mouth, causing a dry mouth.

Both of these factors can lead to breathing delays while sleeping – otherwise known as the “apneas” that are characteristic of obstructive sleep apnea, which can be exacerbated by an inflammatory response. Additionally, if an allergic reaction causes the tonsils or adenoids to swell, the airway may be further blocked.

Can allergies cause sleep apnea?

While allergies have not been proven to cause sleep apnea directly, if they consistently affect the quality of your sleep, they could exacerbate any symptoms of sleep apnea that may already be present. While treating allergies may not definitively prevent sleep apnea, it can help reduce the severity of symptoms and improve overall sleep quality.

Allergies, nasal passage discomfort, and airway inflammation caused by airborne allergens can sometimes cause sleep rhythm disturbances that are not too different from sleep apnea.

Complications and Consequences of Sleep Apnea and Allergies

Sleep apnea and allergies can have severe consequences on an individual’s health if left untreated. The combination of these two conditions can lead to a range of complications, including:

• Excessive Daytime Sleepiness: Struggling with both sleep apnea and allergies can leave you feeling perpetually exhausted. This excessive daytime sleepiness can impair cognitive function, judgment, and reaction time, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries.
• High Blood Pressure: Sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure, which in turn can lead to cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke. When combined with the stress of dealing with allergies, the risk is even higher.
• Respiratory Problems: Allergies can exacerbate respiratory problems, such as asthma, and sleep apnea can worsen these conditions due to chronic inflammation. This double whammy can make breathing even more difficult, especially at night.
• Mental Health Issues: The lack of quality sleep and the stress of dealing with allergies can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. It’s a vicious cycle where poor sleep affects mental health, and poor mental health affects sleep.
• Impaired Cognitive Function: Both sleep apnea and allergies can affect attention, memory, and decision-making skills. This can impact your daily life, making it harder to focus at work or school.
• Increased Risk of Accidents: Excessive daytime sleepiness can increase the risk of accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Whether you’re driving or operating machinery, the lack of alertness can be dangerous.

Diagnosing and Treating Sleep Apnea

Diagnosing sleep apnea is a crucial step in managing this sleep disorder and improving overall health. The process typically involves a combination of medical history, physical examination, and sleep studies. Your healthcare provider will ask about symptoms such as loud snoring, daytime fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. They may also perform a physical examination to look for signs of sleep apnea, such as a large neck size or a deviated septum.

Sleep studies, also known as polysomnography (PSG), are often conducted in a sleep lab or at home. During a PSG, sensors are placed on the body to monitor brain activity, heart rate, and breathing patterns while you sleep. This test helps diagnose sleep apnea and determine its severity.

Treatment for sleep apnea varies depending on the type and severity of the condition. For mild sleep apnea, lifestyle changes such as weight loss, regular exercise, and avoiding alcohol and sedatives before bedtime may be recommended. For more severe cases, treatment options may include:

• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy: This involves wearing a mask over the nose and/or mouth while sleeping, which delivers a constant flow of air pressure to keep the airway open.
• Oral Appliances: These custom-made devices advance the position of the lower jaw, keeping the airway open during sleep.
• Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove excess tissue in the throat or to correct a deviated septum.

It’s essential to work with a healthcare provider to determine the best course of treatment for sleep apnea. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

In addition to these treatments, managing allergy symptoms can also help alleviate sleep apnea. Allergies can exacerbate sleep apnea by causing nasal congestion, swelling, and increased mucus production, which can narrow the airway and worsen sleep apnea symptoms. Using allergy medications, such as antihistamines or nasal corticosteroids, can help reduce allergy symptoms and improve sleep quality.

In some cases, sleep apnea can be triggered by an allergic reaction to food or environmental allergens. Identifying and avoiding these allergens can help prevent sleep apnea episodes.

Overall, diagnosing and treating sleep apnea requires a comprehensive approach that takes into account both sleep disorders and allergic reactions. By working with a healthcare provider and managing allergy symptoms, individuals with sleep apnea can improve their sleep quality and reduce their risk of related health problems.

 Could Allergy Treatment Cure My Sleep Apnea?

Treatment of allergies may be useful for milder cases of obstructive sleep apnea. There are several treatments available:

In addition to managing allergies, there are various strategies and technologies available to treat sleep apnea, such as CPAP and APAP devices.

You can take over-the-counter antihistamines like Benadryl or Claritin, or a decongestant like Mucinex or Sudafed, and use nasal corticosteroids to minimize the effects of allergies during the day. You could also use a saline nasal spray and then rub VapoRub onto your chest for a quick treatment that doesn’t require drugs. When nothing else seems to work, you can also ask your doctor about the prospect of taking allergy shots.

Another good idea is to invest in a hypoallergenic pillow at night that does not trap pollen, dust, or any other irritants of allergens in its fibers.

You should also consider buying a humidifier in your bedroom to moisturize the air that can treat any dry sinuses and cracked lips (from breathing through your mouth), as well as any other respiratory conditions. If you already have a humidifier, then be sure to change the water periodically.

What are the Signs of OSA?

There are a variety of signs to look for to decide whether you are suffering from sleep apnea.

One of the most revealing signs is frequent loud snoring and breathing pauses when you’re sleeping. Additional symptoms include morning headaches when you wake up first, daytime exhaustion and sleepiness, or a general lack of energy due to sleep fragmentation even though you get seven hours of sleep a night or more.

Central Sleep Apnea and Allergies

Central sleep apnea is a type of sleep apnea that occurs when the brain fails to send signals to the breathing muscles. Unlike obstructive sleep apnea, which is caused by a physical blockage, central sleep apnea is more about a communication breakdown in the brain’s neurological response. Allergies can trigger central sleep apnea by causing inflammation and congestion in the airways, leading to breathing difficulties.

• Symptoms of Central Sleep Apnea: These include shortness of breath, difficulty falling asleep, and difficulty staying asleep. If you find yourself waking up frequently during the night gasping for air, it could be a sign of central sleep apnea.
• Allergies and Central Sleep Apnea: Allergies can exacerbate central sleep apnea by causing inflammation and congestion in the airways. This makes it even harder for your brain to regulate breathing during sleep.
• Treatment Options: Treatment for central sleep apnea may include lifestyle changes, oxygen therapy, or medications. It’s crucial to address both sleep apnea and allergies to improve your overall health.

What Can I Do About Sleep Apnea?

Seek support from a sleep expert if you haven’t already. The first step toward sleep apnea care is to do a sleep test. Then, after a diagnosis that indicates that it is indeed sleeping apnea, they will prescribe the best remedy for treating it.

Maintaining healthy sleep habits and good sleep hygiene is crucial for managing sleep apnea and allergies, as it can help improve overall sleep quality and reduce the severity of symptoms.

If you are suffering from allergies and believe they are interfering with your sleep, talk about it with one of our sleep experts. We can provide treatments that will help you wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day ahead.

Managing Symptoms and Improving Health

Managing sleep apnea and allergies requires a comprehensive approach that includes lifestyle changes, medical treatment, and self-care strategies. Here are some tips to help manage symptoms and improve health:

• Establish a Consistent Sleep Schedule: Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day can help regulate your sleep patterns.
• Create a Sleep-Conducive Environment: Make your bedroom a sanctuary for sleep. Keep it cool, dark, and quiet, and invest in a comfortable mattress and pillows.
• Avoid Allergens and Irritants: Identify and avoid allergens that can trigger allergic reactions. This might include keeping windows closed during high pollen seasons or using air purifiers.
• Use Allergy Medications: Use allergy medications and treatments as prescribed by a healthcare provider. Over-the-counter antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal sprays can help manage symptoms.
• Practice Relaxation Techniques: Techniques such as meditation and deep breathing can reduce stress and promote relaxation, making it easier to fall asleep.
• Engage in Regular Physical Activity: Regular exercise can improve overall health and reduce symptoms of sleep apnea and allergies. Just be sure to avoid vigorous activity close to bedtime.
• Consider Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I): If you struggle with sleep-related issues, CBT-I can be an effective treatment to improve sleep quality.

Conclusion

Sleep apnea and allergies are connected, and the combination of these two conditions can have severe consequences on an individual’s health. Understanding the relationship between sleep apnea and allergies is crucial for developing effective treatment strategies. By managing symptoms, improving health, and addressing underlying conditions, individuals can reduce the risk of complications and improve their overall quality of life. If you suspect that you or a loved one has sleep apnea and allergies, consult with a healthcare provider to develop a personalized treatment plan.