Connection Between COPD and Sleep Apnea
Both COPD and sleep apnea are respiratory diseases. Although the breathing problems for sleep apnea obviously occur mainly when trying to sleep, COPD also affects breathing during sleep. It was found that sleep apnea occurs in 10-15% of patients with COPD.
Both COPD and sleep apnea both cause restless sleep and daytime fatigue. When both disorders occur together, it is referred to as "overlap syndrome" since the two conditions cause similar problems in breathing during sleep. Both conditions are dangerous on their own, but is worse for those with both COPD and sleep apnea.
Researchers are looking for a connection between COPD and sleep apnea. Though some researchers believe the percentage of patients with sleep apnea is higher in those with COPD, others believe this percentage is explainable simply by chance alone with the odds of developing either or both conditions.
There has not been enough research to see if COPD can cause sleep apnea, or if those with this sleeping disorder have a greater risk of developing COPD along with the other risk factors. This is partly due to increased methods of diagnosis for both disorders.
One problem is that sleep problems are not usually tested for in COPD patients unless sleep apnea is suspected. And for those going in for a sleep study to check for sleep apnea, it was not always considered to check for issues other than what the study was designed to diagnose.
As always, more research needs to be done. With the increased curiosity in researchers of those with overlap syndrome and more advanced methods for diagnosing disorders, perhaps some day a link will be found between COPD and sleep apnea. But even though it seems there is a high occurrence of having both conditions together, so far there is no proven connection between COPD and sleep apnea.
SOURCES:
Nicholas Hart; Do chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients that snore have an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea?; Dove Medical Press Limited
John A. Fleetham, M.D.; Is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Related to Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome?; Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
National Sleep Foundation; COPD and Difficulty Breathing
Published by Jolynne M Hudnell
Jolynne is a part-time freelance writer and independently-published poet. Jolynne has knowledge and experience in a variety of topics. Jolynne enjoys singing and writing poetry. Her published work in... View profile
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