Asthma at Night Nocturnal Asthma and Sleep Disturbances

Asthma at Night Nocturnal Asthma and Sleep Disturbances

Tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing - are symptoms that nocturnal asthma sufferers know all too well.

It is a condition that cannot be underestimated at all and that greatly affects the quality of life. So it is useless to deny it: controlling asthma symptoms, when they occur at night, is much more difficult.

But why do asthma attacks occur at night? Here are some reasons.
The chances of experiencing asthma symptoms are greatest during the night hours. The causes can be many and the exact reason is not yet fully known. However, there are some valid explanations such as:

●   Increased mucus or sinusitis - During sleep, the airways tend to narrow, causing increased resistance to airflow - this could trigger an annoying nighttime cough, resulting in tightening of the airways. Infine, for this same reason, those who suffer from sinusitis are more exposed to the risk of suffering asthma attacks during the night.

●   Lying position: sleeping in a perfectly horizontal position can predispose to nocturnal asthma problems. There are many factors behind this condition: accumulation of secretions in the airways increased blood volume in the lungs and decreased lung volume.

●   Air conditioning - Sleeping in an air-conditioned environment tends to "cool" the airways, causing them to lose their moisture: these factors, already known to cause so-called "exercise asthma", could also be involved in episodes of persistent nighttime cough.

●   Gastric Reflux: If you suffer from heartburn, remember that gastric reflux, which passes from the oesophagus to the larynx, can trigger bronchospasm. The situation worsens considerably when lying down. Remember also that gastric acid can cause irritation of the lower part of the oesophagus, causing a constriction of the airways, with all that this entails.

●   Delayed response to allergen: If you are exposed to certain allergens before going to bed, allergic asthma symptoms are most likely to occur at night. We recall, in fact, that about 50% of those who show an immediate allergic reaction also have a second phase of airway obstruction within 3-8 hours of exposure to the allergen.

●   Hormones: As we know, hormonal changes occur between night and day. Hormones also have characteristic circadian rhythms. Take epinephrine, which, for example, exerts important influences on the muscles of the bronchial walls, keeping them relaxed and allowing a greater amplitude of the respiratory tract. Not only. This hormone also inhibits the release of other substances, such as histamines, which cause mucus secretion and bronchospasm. And epinephrine levels are lowest around 4 a.m., while histamine levels are - which plays a major role in inflammatory and allergic responses - tend to peak around this very time. Here, then, is another possible explanation for why asthma attacks occur at night.

 

How to prevent nighttime asthma
Are you correctly following the therapy prescribed by your doctor to treat nocturnal asthma attacks? Inhaled steroids, bronchodilators and corticosteroids are the first and fundamental allies to be able to spend hours of sleep in peace.

However, there are also some small precautions to keep in mind to try to prevent coughing, wheezing, and wheezing. Between these:

Thoroughly clean your bedroom: It may seem trivial, but keeping your home clean is absolutely essential. If you can, use a vacuum cleaner with a particulate filter to try to catch allergens and small airborne particles that could increase nighttime asthma symptoms. In short, if your appliances were not yet equipped, before buying them, check whether or not there is the presence of the famous HEPA filters. It is important!

Wash your sheets weekly. For those who suffer from nocturnal asthma attacks, as we have seen, cleaning is really essential. Even the one with the sheets! Carry out a weekly wash, in strictly hot water, to ensure the death of dust mites. Another great way is getting the Clenil Inhaler, the Spiriva Inhaler or the Symbicort Inhaler online in the UK with your favorite pharmacy.