Nocturnal Asthma

Suddenly you feel your chest tighten up. You cough -- a dry cough, and it's difficult to breathe. You begin to wheeze. These are the symptoms of an asthma attack, a frightening occurrence at any time, but it's even more scary when such an attack awakens you in the dead of night and you lie there gasping for breath, feeling helpless. This is Nocturnal Asthma. It's frightening, it disrupts your sleep and leaves you feeling dragged out and tired all the next day.

The majority of asthma attacks occur during the night, between 3 and 5 a.m.. This may be related to the Circadian Rhythm and the production of melatonin.

What happens to your body during an asthma attack? According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America:

• The linings of the airways swell and become more inflamed.
• Mucus clogs the airways
• The muscles around the airways tighten.
• The airways narrow.
• Breathing becomes difficult and stressful.

There are several things that can cause this to happen.

• Allergens, like dust mites, pollen or animal dander..
• Smoke or other strong fumes
• Cold, flu, or other respiratory infections
• Cold, dry air.
• Heartburn
• Sleep apnea
• Exercise that makes you breathe heavily.

And, as mentioned above, your Circadian Rhythm plays a large role in the increase in nighttime attacks. Your lungs respond to this rhythm, with peak lung function occurring at 4 p.m., dropping to its lowest function at 4 a.m.

Asthma attacks often occur in two waves. As the first wave wears off, and you start to relax, a second, more severe wave may hit you. The American Lung Association has this advice if you are suffering from a severe asthma attack:

• Take your asthma medicine and get emergency help right away.
• Do not wait too long.
• Go to your doctor's office or to the emergency room immediately.

Asthma can be treated and controlled. The first thing to do is to find out what triggers your asthma and then get rid of them as much as possible. Avoid triggers like smoke and pollen as much as possible. It may be necessary to remove pets from the home. Keep your home as free of dust as possible.

Then talk to your doctor and follow his advice to the letter. He may prescribe medications such as inhalants to help clear airways and reduce mucus. Anti-inflammatory medication to reduce the swelling and inflammation in the lungs is sometimes prescribed. If you suffer from sinusitis, then take medication to reduce this problem.

Although asthma is not actually a sleep disorder, there is no doubt that a nocturnal attack definitely disrupts your rest. Therefore, I thought this short article belonged in this category. If you suffer from asthma, talk to your doctor. Don't let this troublesome disorder disrupt your sleep and your life.