Why does asthma make you tired

All rights reserved. Always consult your doctor about your medical conditions. Use of the site is conditional upon your acceptance of our terms of use. By Editorial Team May 10, Share to Facebook Share to Twitter email print page Bookmark for later comment 2 Reactions 0 reactions. Response from Leon C. Community Poll Does your asthma make you feel fatigued? Yes, often. Yes, sometimes. Yes, but rarely. No, never. I'm not sure. Sign up for emails from Asthma. Comments 0 comments. Comments 1 comments.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The Asthma. If you respond early to the first signs that your asthma is getting worse, you can prevent serious asthma attacks. It is really important to pay attention to your symptoms because your peak flow can be normal even when your asthma is getting worse. Triggers are things that make your asthma worse. Triggers can cause the airways to become swollen, tightened, and plugged up due to extra mucus.

What causes asthma to flare up in one person, may not have the same effect on another person with asthma. Talk to your doctor about what your asthma triggers are and what to do to avoid them. Some common triggers are:. You may need to go more often, especially if your asthma is not under control. Regular visits will let your doctor check your progress and, if needed, change your treatment plan.

Ask about getting a flu shot and a vaccine to prevent pneumonia. Your doctor can also check other medical problems you may have. To download from the "Please wait" page, move your cursor to the top right, click on the download icon, and choose where to save it on your computer.

Once saved, you will be able to open with Adobe Acrobat reader and use all of the features of the action plan. Email info GetAsthmaHelp. Asthma in Older Adults Asthma is sometimes thought of as a "childhood disease," but it is often diagnosed as a new condition in older people. What is Asthma? Asthma Basics All About Asthma. Is Your Asthma Under Control?

Work with Your Health Care Provider. Indoor Air Quality. OSA is particularly common in people with asthma who also snore and those with poorly-controlled asthma symptoms.

People with asthma may find it helpful to talk to their doctors about obstructive sleep apnea. Because asthma puts a person at an increased risk of developing OSA , research suggests that periodic evaluations for OSA may help patients with asthma. Fortunately, treating OSA can often reduce asthma symptoms.

Asthma symptoms can often be controlled by working with a doctor, allergist, or pulmonologist lung specialist to create a personalized Asthma Action Plan. Controlling asthma typically involves taking asthma medications and making a plan to avoid triggers that make asthma worse.

Asthma medications come in two forms: quick-relief medicines that control asthma attacks and long-term control medicines that reduce the frequency and severity of future asthma attacks. The American Lung Association recommends that people with asthma visit their doctor at least once a year to discuss their Asthma Action Plan. Yet even with the best plan, asthma can sometimes get out of control. Focusing on improving sleep hygiene is a significant first step.

By developing a regular sleep schedule and healthy daytime routines, people with asthma can reduce unnecessary daytime fatigue and focus on controlling their asthma symptoms. Asthma triggers in the bedroom may increase the risk of nocturnal asthma and lost sleep.

In addition to working with a doctor to find solutions for reducing or eliminating asthma triggers, below are a few tips specific to designing the ideal bedroom environment and avoiding nighttime asthma:. Rob writes about the intersection of sleep and mental health and previously worked at the National Cancer Institute. Rehman, M.

Learn why this may be better for…. Sleep apnea headaches are a type of morning headache common in people with obstructive sleep apnea. Learn more about what…. An actigraphy device tracks your movements so your doctor can analyze your sleep patterns. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website.

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The Sleep Foundation editorial team is dedicated to providing content that meets the highest standards for accuracy and objectivity. Our editors and medical experts rigorously evaluate every article and guide to ensure the information is factual, up-to-date, and free of bias. Updated February 5, Written by Rob Newsom.

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Anis Rehman. Although fatigue is not usually a symptom of asthma, having asthma can cause fatigue. Severe asthma or asthma attacks can also be very tiring for the body. Fatigue is a feeling of tiredness or exhaustion. Many people with asthma report feeling fatigue, which includes sleepiness during waking hours and a lack of energy. Experiencing breathing difficulties, a chronic cough , or asthma symptoms while trying to sleep may all contribute to fatigue.

In this article, we look at the link between fatigue and asthma, causes, treatment, and prevention, as well as when to contact a doctor. A study found that people with asthma frequently reported fatigue. Alongside common asthma symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing, and feeling short of breath, the study participants reported tiredness, lack of energy, and daytime sleepiness.

Authors of the study conclude that many factors could be causing fatigue but that there may be a link between fatigue and breathing difficulties, poorly controlled asthma, and asthma-related quality of life. People may feel fatigue when they have asthma symptoms, especially if they are experiencing them frequently.

Nighttime asthma may lead to fatigue, and people may feel more tired after an asthma flare-up. Research has also found a connection between sleep duration and worsening asthma. A study involving 1, adults looked at the link between sleep duration and asthma. All participants were over the age of 20 years and self-identified as having asthma. The participants who slept for 5 hours or less had an increased rate of asthma attacks, coughing, and overnight hospitalizations, compared with those who slept for 6—8 hours.

The participants who slept for 9 or more hours experienced more limitations in their daily activity due to wheezing, compared with those who slept for 6—8 hours. People with more frequent asthma symptoms may experience greater levels of tiredness than those with infrequent or no symptoms. Authors of a study following 2, children aged 11 years found that the children who had frequent symptoms of asthma reported daytime tiredness or sleepiness more than the children with infrequent or no asthma symptoms.

If people have uncontrolled asthma, they may be experiencing daily symptoms of the condition, including:.