ARE ASTHMA AND SLEEP APNEA CONNECTED?

Asthma and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are both respiratory disorders that affect breathing. Asthma causes airway narrowing and inflammation, while OSA causes upper airway obstruction. The two conditions are related and affect one another. People with asthma are at higher risk of developing OSA, and OSA increases asthma symptoms when a person has both conditions. During OSA, the muscles at the back of the throat relax and block air from moving to the lungs, causing a pause in breathing for several seconds. One connection between OSA and asthma is that OSA may cause asthma-like symptoms such as airway inflammation and narrowing, making asthma symptoms worse and increasing flareups. Asthma also makes OSA worse by restricting airways and breathing capacity.

P.S. Risk factors that are common for both asthma and obstructive sleep apnea include obesity, rhinitis (allergic reaction), GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), and family history.

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