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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Description

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is characterized by a chronic impairment of airflow through the respiratory tract. The cardiorespiratory function is altered during sleep and a complaint of insomnia can occur.

Diagnosis

Sleep disturbance commonly occurs in patients with this disease. The chief complaints are difficulty initiating sleep, frequent awakenings with respiratory distress, shortness of breath, nocturnal coughing, frequent brief arousals throughout the night, and a feeling of being unrested upon awakening. The sleep disturbance can be made worse by the medication used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is typically seen in adults who are cigarette smokers. Obesity appears to be an aggravating factor in the development of the sleep disturbance. Most patients who have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease will develop some sleep disturbance.

Treatment

Sorry, there currently is no treatment for this condition. Please check back often as researchers are discovering new treatments for sleep conditions every day.

Source: Adapted from International Classification of Sleep Disorders Diagnostic & Coding Manual, American Academy of Sleep Medicine.