What Triggers Asthma Attacks At Night

Side Effects Of Steroid Tablets

Oral steroids carry a risk if they are taken for more than three months or if they are taken frequently . Side effects can include:

• easy bruising
• muscle weakness

With the exception of increased appetite, which is very commonly experienced by people taking oral steroids, most of these unwanted effects are uncommon.

However, it is a good idea to keep an eye out for them regularly, especially side effects that are not immediately obvious, such as high blood pressure, thinning of the bones, diabetes and glaucoma.

You will need regular appointments to check for these.

Want to know more?

• Asthma UK: side effects of asthma medicines

Physiological And Clinical Consequences Of Respiratory

Disorders of ventilation during sleep can result in several physiologic and clinical disturbances .1). These complications arise either bacause of interference with the quality, quantity or structure of sleep or because of recurrent nocturnal hypoxaemia or asphyxia . The disturbances in sleep structure result in neurophysiologic and behavioural manifestations rather than respiratory complaints , whereas the complications of nocturnal hypoxaemia or asphyxia are predominantly cardiovascular and respiratory in nature .

What Asthma Treatment Options Are There

You have options to help manage your asthma. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medications to control symptoms. These include:

• Anti-inflammatory medicines: These medicines reduce swelling and mucus production in your airways. They make it easier for air to enter and exit your lungs. Your healthcare provider may prescribe them to take every day to control or prevent your symptoms.
• Bronchodilators: These medicines relax the muscles around your airways. The relaxed muscles let the airways move air. They also let mucus move more easily through the airways. These medicines relieve your symptoms when they happen.
• Biologic therapies for asthma when symptoms persist despite being on proper inhaler therapy.

You can take asthma medicines in several different ways. You may breathe in the medicines using a metered-dose inhaler, nebulizer or other inhaler. Your healthcare provider may prescribe oral medications that you swallow.

Recommended Reading: Can Allergies Cause Asthma Attacks

What Should I Do If I Have A Severe Asthma Attack

A severe asthma attack needs immediate medical care. The first step is your rescue inhaler. A rescue inhaler uses fast-acting medicines to open up your airways. Its different than your normal maintenance inhaler, which you use every day. You should only use the rescue inhaler in an emergency.

If your rescue inhaler doesnt help or you dont have it with you, go to the emergency department if you have:

• Anxiety or panic.
• Bluish fingernails, bluish lips or gray or whitish lips or gums .
• Chest pain or pressure.

Lie On Your Left Side With A Pillow Between Your Legs

If youre a side sleeper with asthma, lying on your left side may help particularly if you have gastroesophageal reflux, also known as heartburn, which can trigger asthma especially at night. Sleeping on your left side uses gravity, the shape of the stomach, and the angle of the connection between it and the esophagus,which can reduce reflux. Lying on your left side with your head elevated may be enough to keep you comfortable through the night, but if its not, experiment by adding a pillow between your legs.

Adding the pillow may keep your spine stable throughout the night and may improve your sleep posture, which can help you breathe easily.

You May Like: Wheezing After Dabs

How To Ease Breathing Problems At Night

• Keep allergens at bay: your difficulty breathing at night may be caused by tiny particles in your bedding. Eliminate house dust mites and dust mite allergens from your sleep environment by cosying up in a wool bedding set. This natural fibre is highly effective at repelling dust mites and keeping them out of your bed, so you can get a better nights sleep.
• Sleep on extra pillows: if lying down flat seems to trigger an episode of wheezing and coughing at night, try propping yourself up on an extra pillow or two. This can help to ease problems associated with catarrh and reduced lung capacity.
• Maintain a good sleeping routine: while a regular bedtime routine wont alleviate the symptoms of an asthma cough at night, it can help you to settle down to sleep more easily, increasing your chances of getting a good nights rest.
• Watch out for other triggers: pet hair, pollen and stress can all cause difficulty breathing at night. Its important to identify any triggers that cause breathing problems at night for you so you can take steps to minimise these.
• Ask your GP or asthma nurse about changes to medication: if you regularly experience coughing and wheezing at night, or if your symptoms get worse, see your GP or nurse to review your medication. If possible, take along a record of your recent peak flow readings for them to better understand your sleep and asthma issues.

Tips To Prevent Nighttime Asthma Attacks

Nighttime asthma attacks can be controlled. Take these steps to sleep better with severe asthma.

Many people with severe asthma find that symptoms like coughing, wheezing, and breathlessness are worse at night. There are a number of reasons why this is so, says Sonali Bose, MD, an assistant professor in the division of medicine, pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

Some key factors that contribute to nighttime asthma attacks include:

• Your bodys internal clock. Your circadian rhythm causes some of your hormone levels to fall at night. Lower levels of hormones can cause your airways to narrow slightly. These narrowed airways can exacerbate your asthma symptoms, according to the Asthma Society of Canada .

• Dust mites. Your pillows, blankets, and mattress can all be a haven for these microscopic insect-like pests and their waste. Allergies to dust mites can worsen asthma, and you could be wallowing in them as you sleep, according to the ASC.

• Gravity. When you lie down, your chest and lungs naturally experience extra pressure, the ASC says.

Recommended Reading: How To Help Your Breathing Without Inhaler

Improving Asthma At Night

Although you cannot control certain factors, such as your hormone levels, there are several things you can do to improve your asthma symptoms at night. Consider the tips below for suppressing flareups.

Reduce Allergens

Certain things in your bedroom might be triggering an increase in asthma symptoms. Make your bedroom as allergen-free as possible. By decreasing allergens, you may reduce nighttime symptoms.

Keep your bedroom free of dust and clean your bedroom often. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter, which works well to trap dust. Get rid of items that easily collect dust, such as books or knickknacks.

You should also wash your bedding in hot water about once a week to get rid of dust mites. Consider using hypoallergenic pillowcases and sheets, which can help decrease allergens as well.

If pet dander is an issue, dont let your four-legged friends sleep in your room. Pet danger can become trapped in the carpet, which can lead to an increase in symptoms.

Sleep with Your Head Elevated

An increase in mucus from your sinuses may trigger asthma symptoms, such as coughing. Acid reflux, which is very common, can also trigger coughing and other asthma symptoms.

If postnasal drip, increased mucus, or acid reflux is an issue, consider sleeping with the head of your bed elevated. Place a wedge pillow under your head or use a few pillows while you sleep.

Medication and/or Treatment Changes

How Often Do People With Asthma Have Sleep Problems

In our recent sleep survey, 45% of people told us they have difficulty sleeping because of their asthma at least once a week, and nearly 50% said theyd had an asthma attack at night. Here are some of the things that people tell us help them get a good nights sleep, which our nurses agree might be helpful:

Read Also: Chihuahuas Cure Asthma

How Do You Monitor Asthma Symptoms

Monitoring your asthma symptoms is an essential piece of managing the disease. Your healthcare provider may have you use a peak flow meter. This device measures how fast you can blow air out of your lungs. It can help your provider make adjustments to your medication. It also tells you if your symptoms are getting worse.

What Causes An Asthma Attack

An asthma attack can happen when you are exposed to asthma triggers. Your asthma triggers can be very different from someone elses asthma triggers. Know your triggers and learn how to avoid them. Watch out for an attack when you cant avoid your triggers. Some of the most common triggers are tobacco smoke, dust mites, outdoor air pollution, cockroach allergen, pets, mold, smoke from burning wood or grass, and infections like flu.

Don’t Miss: Really Bad Asthma

Other Ways To Prevent Asthma Attacks At Night

If a persons asthma is under control, then it would be rare for them to have a nocturnal asthma attack, said Carrillo. However, everybody has their own asthma triggers, so it is important to be mindful of your triggers, even when sleeping.She recommends four steps you can take to create an asthma-friendly sleep:

• Avoid sleeping near strong odors like perfumes or bed linen sprays
• Use pillow covers to prevent dust mites
• Wash your bed linens in hot water on a regular basis
• Keep pets out of the bedroom, especially if you are sensitive to their dander
• Get your flu shot and stay ahead of any respiratory illnesses

Why Do I Wake Up In The Morning With Asthma

Early morning asthma symptoms may also be a sign that your asthma has been difficult through the night, even if you werent aware of it. Here are some simple steps you can take to stop asthma getting in the way of a good nights sleep. If you have asthma symptoms, sit up and take your reliever inhaler as prescribed.

Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Asthma Without Inhaler

Other Tips For Sleeping With Asthma

Other ways to reduce asthma symptoms at night include:

• Cut down on allergens in your bedroom. Consider using an air purifier next to your bed and keep airflow in your room through the night.
• Wash your bedding in hot water every 1-2 weeks to get rid of dust mites and other irritants that may be on your sheets.
• Consider switching to bedding made of natural cotton, as opposed to synthetic polyester depending on your allergies.
• Keep pets off your bed, especially when youre in it.
• Keep asthma medication on your nightstand or another easily accessible place, and take them as directed by your doctor.
• Set the thermostat in your bedroom slightly higher in the evenings. Sleeping in a cold environment can be an asthma trigger.

Nocturnal Asthma Diagnosis And Treatment:

Your physician asks about the symptoms and obtains full medical history to treat nocturnal asthma. Treatment is based on circadian rhythm and the effects of various medications.

Once your doctor has clear understanding about your condition and symptoms, he can prescribe long lasting medications.

Some patients treat nocturnal asthma by treating related conditions that trigger nocturnal asthma. Allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and acid reflux disease can cause nocturnal asthma symptoms worse. Treating these conditions individually improves nocturnal asthma.

Inhaler will not help with lung function all night. It is impossible to cure completely nocturnal asthma. You have to follow some preventive measures to lessen the nocturnal asthma attack.

Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Asthma Without Inhaler

You Often Feel Short Of Breath

Another sign that your asthma is getting worse is if you start to feel out of breath even when youre not doing anything strenuous. Its normal to feel winded after exercising or climbing more stairs than youre used to, but stationary activities like standing, sitting, or lying down shouldnt cause you to lose your breath.

What To Do During An Asthma Attack Without An Inhaler At Night

Follow these tips to survive a night-time asthma attack without an inhaler:

• Sit straight to keep your airways open
• Stay calm, as stress or panic can worsen your symptoms
• Take long, deep breaths to reduce symptoms
• Asthma can be triggered by dust, cigarette smoke, and other allergens. Stay away from triggers and go to any area with clean air.
• A cup of coffee can open up your airways and provide you some relief
• Seek emergency medical attention if symptoms persist

You May Like: Does Weight Gain Make Asthma Worse

Get Tested For Sleep Apnea

People with asthma have a high risk of developing sleep apnea. Congestion from asthma causes snoring and may halt breathing for a few seconds at a time. If you wake up feeling tired, moody, and sore each morning, despite getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep, talk to your doctor about getting tested for sleep apnea.

If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to long-term effects, like excessive daytime sleepiness and more serious medical conditions, like insomnia and acid reflux Worlds largest medical library, making biomedical data and information more accessible.View sourceor GERD).

Does A Cpap Help In Asthma Attack At Night

If there is an issue of carbon dioxide retention during an asthma attack, your doctor is more likely to recommend a BiPAP , as opposed to a CPAP . However, many patients with mild asthma have reported of using a CPAP machine without any problems.

Visit your doctor as soon as you suspect that you have asthma or asthma-like symptoms. Seeking immediate medical attention from an urgent care near you can also help you control an asthma attack and manage the symptoms.

Recommended Reading: Can You Join The Army If You Have Asthma

Treatment Of Nocturnal Asthma

Important treatment considerations for nocturnal asthma are listed in Box 225, and general asthma guidelines are listed in Table 227. Reducing the burden of allergen exposure by keeping the bedroom free of dust may help. The foundation of treatment of chronic persistent asthma is inhaled corticosteroids. Weersink and colleagues80 studied a group with nocturnal asthma and patients were treated with inhaled fluticasone, salmeterol , or the combination. The three treatments all reduced the circadian variation in peak flow to less than 10% , improved the bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine both day and night, and improved cognitive performance during daytime testing. Thus, the usual practice is to start with inhaled steroids and add a long-acting inhaled beta agonist if symptoms persist .

M. Innes Asher BSc, MBChB, FRACP, ⦠Eamon Ellwood DipTch, DipInfo Tech, in, 2012

Whats An Asthma Attack

When you breathe normally, muscles around your airways are relaxed, letting air move easily. During an asthma attack, three things can happen:

• Bronchospasm: The muscles around the airways constrict . When they tighten, it makes the airways narrow. Air cannot flow freely through constricted airways.
• Inflammation: The airway linings become swollen. Swollen airways dont let as much air in or out of the lungs.
• Mucus production: During the attack, your body creates more mucus. This thick mucus clogs airways.

Also Check: What Happens If You Smoke Weed With Asthma

Who Can Get Asthma

Anyone can develop asthma at any age. People with allergies or people exposed to tobacco smoke and secondhand smoke are more likely to develop asthma.

Statistics show women tend to have asthma more than men, and asthma affects Black Americans more frequently than other races.

When a child develops asthma, healthcare providers call it childhood asthma. If it develops later in life, its adult-onset asthma.

Children do not outgrow asthma. They may have fewer symptoms as they get older, but they could still have an asthma attack. Your childs healthcare provider can help you understand the risks.

When To See The Doctor

A good rule of thumb is you should visit your doctor if you have asthma and you wake up in the night more than once per week after using treatments. Your doctor can evaluate what may be causing your symptoms and help modify your treatment plan. Checking your breath in a peak flow meter at night may also be helpful.

If you are not diagnosed with asthma but have asthma-like symptoms at night, you should report the episodes to your doctor. While you may not have asthma, your doctor can point you in the right direction for treatment.

You May Like: What Two Body Systems Are Affected By Asthma

What Are Common Asthma Attack Triggers

An asthma attack happens when someone comes in contact with substances that irritate them. Healthcare providers call these substances triggers. Knowing what triggers your asthma makes it easier to avoid asthma attacks.

For some people, a trigger can bring on an attack right away. Sometimes, an attack may start hours or days later.

Triggers can be different for each person. But some common triggers include:

• Air pollution: Many things outside can cause an asthma attack. Air pollution includes factory emissions, car exhaust, wildfire smoke and more.
• Dust mites: You cant see these bugs, but they are in many homes. If you have a dust mite allergy, they can cause an asthma attack.
• Exercise: For some people, exercising can cause an attack.
• Mold: Damp places can spawn mold. It can cause problems for people with asthma. You dont even have to be allergic to mold to have an attack.
• Pests: Cockroaches, mice and other household pests can cause asthma attacks.
• Pets: Your pets can cause asthma attacks. If youre allergic to pet dander , breathing in the dander can irritate your airways.
• Tobacco smoke: If you or someone in your home smokes, you have a higher risk of developing asthma. The best solution is to quit smoking.
• Strong chemicals or smells.

With asthma, you may not have all of these symptoms. You may have different signs at different times. And symptoms can change between asthma attacks.