Can Allergies Affect Sleep Apnea?

Feeling the effects of poor sleep and allergies? If you suffer from both, you may have wondered if the two are connected. The answer is yes, allergies can have an effect on sleep apnea. Understanding their relationship can help you improve both your breathing and rest.

How Allergies Impact Breathing at Night

Allergies, whether they’re seasonal or environmental, cause inflammation in the nasal passages. Conditions like allergic rhinitis (also known as hay fever) can lead to nasal congestion, a runny nose, sinus pressure or postnasal drip. All of these can block or inflame the nasal passages, making it harder to breathe through the nose. In turn, you’re forced to breathe through your mouth while you sleep, contributing to instability in the airway.

How Allergies and Sleep Apnea Are Linked

Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs when the airway repeatedly collapses or becomes blocked during sleep, leading to pauses in breathing. Nasal obstruction from allergies doesn’t directly cause sleep apnea, but can make it worse. Congested, narrowed airways make collapse more likely. Mouth breathing can alter the jaw and tongue position, also obstructing the airway. Allergy symptoms can also cause frequent nighttime awakenings, compounding fatigue. For patients already diagnosed with sleep apnea, untreated allergies can reduce the effectiveness of treatments like CPAP therapy by making it harder to tolerate airflow through congested nasal passages.

How to Know Allergies Are Impacting Your Sleep

You might notice frequent wakeups at night or headaches and fatigue during the day. If you already use CPAP therapy, you may find you have difficulty tolerating it at night. You or your sleep partner may notice worsening snoring during allergy season. Allergy and sleep apnea symptoms often overlap, making it important to evaluate both conditions together.

Treatment Options for Allergies That Affect Sleep Apnea

The good news is that managing allergies can significantly improve sleep quality and even help reduce sleep apnea severity. Your ENT may recommend nasal steroid sprays to reduce inflammation, antihistamines to control allergic reactions, saline rinses to clear nasal passages or immunotherapy to provide long-term relief. In some cases, addressing structural issues (like a deviated septum) can further improve airflow and sleep.

Are allergies getting in the way of good night sleep? Our team at Biltmore ENT is ready to help. Contact our office today at (602) 956-1250 or click here to request an appointment.