Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) is a group of inflammatory lung conditions that cause an obstruction in the airflow from your lungs. The most common COPDs are Emphysema, chronic Bronchitis, chronic Asthma.
COPD usually develops in people after the age of 40. Problems with sleep and daytime fatigue are common with people suffering from COPD.
Symptoms of COPD are usually not diagnosed until considerable lung damage has already occurred. However, some signs and symptoms of COPD include:
COPD patients may experience episodes called exacerbations, during which their symptoms aggravate and may last for several days.
COPD patients often complain of disturbed sleep or lack of sleep. COPD causes oxygen desaturation - a sudden drop in oxygen levels in your blood - that may exceed while sleeping, thereby disrupting the quality of sleep.
Nocturnal symptoms like coughing, chest pain, and frequent urination may impact the quality of sleep considerably.
Studies suggest that 75% of COPD patients experience symptomatic sleep disturbances.
Additionally, medications to manage symptoms of COPD can also impact your sleep routine on a daily basis.
Sleep Apnea is a chronic sleep disorder that causes your breathing to start and stop repeatedly, by blocking your airways.
COPD, on the other hand, makes breathing difficult because of clogged or narrow airways. It is usually caused due to excessive smoking or air pollution.
When you have both COPD and Sleep Apnea, it is called the Overlap Syndrome. Studies suggest that 10-15% of all patients with COPD have Sleep Apnea. The two can lead to a range of serious health conditions like:
COPD is not curable, but its symptoms can be managed with a few changes in your lifestyle:
Apart from these, establish a sleep routine, especially if you have the Overlap Syndrome. Consult your doctor and make an action and treatment plan for your condition.
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