Why is asthma worse at night?
Question:
Answers:
There are many factors that contribute to this. First of all, everyone's airways naturally narrow a bit at night. But for people without asthma, it doesn't really make a difference. Also, having your child sleep with the head of her bed elevated may help. With asthma the airways are constantly a little bit irritated. The body's natural response is to send fluids to the area to aid in healing, this leads to swelling. Think, if you sprained your ankle you would elevate it to keep swelling down, do the same for your daughter. I found it to be much easier to but books or blocks or something under the legs of my son's bed rather than prop him up with more pillows (he always slid down). And I definitely agree with the person who mentioned gastroesophageal reflux disease. One of the best things we ever did for my son's asthma was to put him on tummy meds (he has been on Pepcid, Prevacid and Zantac). Good luck to you! BTW, Is she on a daily preventative med? If she is having trouble frequently at night it would mean that generally her asthma was not well controlled and she should probably see her doc for evaluation and possible medication change
Other Answers:
Because you are laying on a pillow that isn't hygenic... and if there is dust, etc.. on that pillow, then you will end up reacting to it. Also you are laying down and your lungs aren't as open.
Here's what to try.
1. Try adding another pillow underneath your head.
2. Change the pillowcase everynight before you go to sleep.
3. Get hypoallergenic pillows
4. Keep your room dusted twice a week.
5. Take an Albuterol inhaler before you fall asleep.
6. Try adding Advair to the regiment.
She'll grow out of it...I promise. For now though just give her extra pillows...it's uncomfortable but sleeping at an angle will help. Make sure her inhaler is near by so she can take a puff or 2 during the night if she needs it. Also, as good as it sounds to take all of these other things away from her, it may actually weaken her immune system in the end. My mom took all of the hypoallergenic precautions too and I had to take therapy to strengthen my immune system when I got older...Don't let asthma run her life. By the way, asthma is easier in the summer because in the winter & fall cold air is hard on your lungs (she could wear a scarf around her mouth is help with breathing cold air, but I always hated that and never felt like it helped me), and in the spring allergies have a big affect on the way you breathe due to sinus & allergy problems.
There is some mention of asthma and allergies in the diet books that approach diet by way of reducing insulin production, as insulin production has an effect on the production of a lot of other chemicals and hormones, including histamines and anti-histamines.
I think the other answer has it right about why it worsens at night.
You may want to check out the library link at www.hufa.org for more info on diets that control blood sugar which is how you control insulin production.
Another real possibility is gastroesophageal reflux disease. This is common at night and is a very well documented cause of asthma and exacerbations. It is easily treated with medications (i.e. H2 blocker (Zantac) or proton pump inhibitor (prilosec). It may take several months for symptoms to improve. You should discuss this with your doctor.
i also suffer from asthma and find it to be worse at night. i think when we lay down it puts our lungs at a different angle or level than they are during the day when we are up walking around.you could try more pillows but i find that laying on my side helps me to breathe better while lying in bed.i keep a fan on me year-round at night.use the albuterol right before going to bed.these are only things i have tried that work for me.good luck to your daughter .slow down while getting ready for bed and breathing stays at a calm rate.have a wind-down period awhile before her bedtime.
i can relate to her, in that i suffer with this problem, too. i also take SINGULAR for allergies and asthma and this helps very much.again,good luck. i hope this information is helpful to you.
i have asthma also mine is worse at night because at night your body shuts down and you breath slower and asthma alone messes your breating up
me and my grandma both have it i use a dehumidifier and she uses a humidifier i dont know why but i can not breath well in humid areas but she can so it may be a different reason why you can breath good at night
hope i helped
I concur with Dr. V's answer. Gastroesophageal reflux is one of the largest culprits of nighttime asthma.
Asthma is worse when atmospheric temperature is lower.
could be the angle of her sleeping or that she's focusing just on that there isn't something else occupying her. it might get better, but this is farely common. make sure the bed is sealed including all pillows with the hyperallergetic stuff. it's what i have to do and i was diagnosed 23 years ago. i grew out of that stuff luckily.
albuterol inhaler will help her breathe, but the steroid will help long term
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