Which Respiratory Conditions Increase Your Sleep Apnea Risk?

Sleep apnea is not only a sleep disorder, it is a respiratory illness that can severely limit the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream if it goes untreated. There are many possible causes of sleep apnea, but other respiratory conditions are among the most common. If you have any of the following respiratory illnesses, you may need to be more alert to sleep apnea symptoms such as snoring, daytime fatigue, and sore throats in the morning.

‍Asthma

‍Both asthma and sleep apnea are caused by obstructions in the airways, so it makes sense that these conditions are often co-diagnosed. If you do have asthma, you may improve breathing while you sleep by changing your sleep position and losing excess pounds if you are overweight.

‍Allergies

‍Sleep apnea may result in chronic allergy sufferers, and it may be worse during allergy season for those who have it. With seasonal allergies, the airways are bombarded with pollen and dust, and the resulting inflammation can make it harder to breathe both during the day and at night.

‍Deviated Septum

‍With a deviated septum, you may have frequent nasal congestion that causes you to breathe through your mouth. As you sleep, your jaw may become positioned in such a way that the airway is restricted, making pauses in breathing more likely.

‍COPD

‍Sleep apnea often develops in older individuals, especially those who have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which is common in smokers. Even if you did not have respiratory problems early in life, this condition can have a number of secondary risks—including sleep apnea.