HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

Can Corticosteroids Help Cure Sleep Apnea?

default
Posted on Sat, 11 Jun 2016
Question: Well Its a new month for my questions, I will stretch them out, to answer your last question. Yes, I have sleep apnea, I was diagnosed with it in 2002. I used a cpap for 6 or 7 years. Then I slowly stopped. I always had swallowed a good amount of air and was bloated for much of the day. I got tire of the gas so I slowly stopped, then when I was a single person with no one to annoy, I stopped but I also learned to sleep on my side and not my back.

Am I correct in my thinking that all lung issues, even untreated adult onset asthma symptoms come about slowly or even in some cases asthma can be so mild to the point that it can not be noticed unless something triggers it.?

Your last comment on stress triggering mediators that affect entire body especially lungs was helpful and it also made me think more regarding previous incidents with the breathing.

I have found where I felt normal until an event that provoked higher than usual anxiety, That same time I noticed shorter, more difficult breathing. I had one event that triggered an event that made upper chest seem tighter than normal, it created greater panic and I went to the urgent care/after hours clinic. An x ray showed nothing but the doctor prescribed prednisone to take. I took only two from the bottle but I noticed that the upper chest seemed to breathe easier until it was done in my system. The anxiety of course returned because the breathing was harder.
I have not been able to reduce the stress over the years because of the concern that I could have lung disease like my mother did. or something else.

Your explanation which i mentioned above regarding stress mediators actually gave me a wonderful day on tuesday. Wednesday it turned backward because I expected it to be the same as tuesday and as it failed to return, panic did too.

Next week, i get my yearly physical with my Internist physician. It is in my home town. I am going up alone, this should help stress for two days. I will be away from here, the musty house, the cat dander, the stressful kids and wife.

with that stress reduction, I will keep the Corticosteroid inhaler going to see if I can get it to work like the prednisone to open the inflamed airway and maybe I can get it to come down. Though not planning on using it now, what are your thoughts of the drug prednisone? I have a bottle up north, should I hang on to it or get rid of it?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Better to take inhaled corticosteroids than oral prednisone.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
No, you should not take oral prednisone. Oral steroid is having higher and more serious side effects like osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes, skin lesions, mood swings, Renal damage etc.
So better not to take prednisone.
Inhaled corticosteroid is far better and safer. They act locally (in lungs).
So systemic side effects can be avoided. They will give faster onset of action.
So better to take inhaled corticosteroids.
Don't take oral prednisone.
And it's good that you will be having break from all stress factors.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (48 hours later)
We have talked a lot of stress mediators and airway inflammation. We have never really talked of my upper lungs not inflating like they did prior to my panic attack a few years ago. I know that stress is behind my inflammation. If my inflammation has asthma or just stress all by itself. Can the stress mediators and inflammation tighten all airways but make the upper lungs worse than lower is this what they call chest tightness?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Stress affects whole lung same way.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
I think, we have discussed it previously also.
Actually, stress affects whole lung same way. But you personally feel more discomfort in upper airways, so possibility of upper chest tightness in your case.
Otherwise there is no such liking for upper airways and stress.
Please let me know
1. How was your meeting with doctor?
2. How was your overall health staying away from stressful environment?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (29 minutes later)
Dr appointment next week. Yearly physical on my birthday. I'll tell you if the relaxing when up there and when on return to here. I bet it will be two different health feelings
Had a busy day outside and inside working in dust, construction materials. Grass weeds rotting leaves. I felt great when working but woke to coughing and inability to take a deep breath.
You think I inflamed airways while still in stress levels being high?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Yes, that cleaning and stressed life can correlate.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
First of all Happy Birthday in advance.
I may not able to wish you because we are having only one communication system so wishing you early.
And yes you inflamed your airways when your stress levels are high.
And your current reduction in symptoms away from home (away from stressors) is the biggest proof from this.
Another point tomorrow prove that it is in your mind is that when your mind is occupied in work, you think less or negligible about your stress and symptoms and so you are asymptomatic.
Do you agree?
And yes, your that 18 months can be the triggered factor for your stress induced inflammation.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (9 hours later)
Well first what is "having ofnly on communication system"??????

You have stated no COPD !!! Correct?.
You have indicated Airway inflammation. I will assume that means that there is a form of mild obstruction that limits airway inflow. Reading that the cleaning and stress can correlate and that the 18 months could be trigger. I looked back and found that in april of 2013 all issues began or were first noticed. It was 3 months after mom died, I had changed relationships, had job issues, and the stress of cleaning and emptying the house and getting the house ready for sale and take care of the estate. Then before I could let it go down, I went and got involved with the woman whom I am married to now. That stress and moving down here with all the irritants such as farm odors, dust, cat dander, house mold and mildew and then the job that i cant get a hold of and get a hold of the duties as I have other jobs have only made it worse.

So, repeating you and other physicians, No Copd. I have stress related issues.
My breathing is affected by stress and inflammation and triggers.

I have this going on so long that I think it will take a while to come down.
Not sure I will let it go down without triggering a bit of stress because it will not go down quickly and the anxiety of triggers will bother me.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Yes, this process will take time.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, this process will definitely take time and I am sure you will win over this stress and anxiety.
I am writing in block letters 'YOU ARE NOT HAVING COPD'. So don't think in that direction.
Regarding your communication query, I was telling that I may not be able to wish you on your birthday because I am not having direct contact with you.
I can contact you only when you wish (ask me question).
So I just said happy birthday in advance.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (10 minutes later)
I will text this as last before I close up.

I meant to tell you that I woke early as usual, I call it stress of going to work alarm.
Then Wife got up early keeping me from a rest full sleep making me tense.

Then I got up and was on edge

Then wife started nagging about everything she finds wrong around the house.

All of this raised my stress up, Took my meds in the prescribed amounts and added a xanax to help calm.

I got to work and have been left alone to get work done and have texted you. That and positive thinking I have reduced down some, now to get rid of the issues that cause it.

Have a great Night for you isnt it.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (35 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Sorry to say say but I can't understand your this query.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
Sorry to say but I can't understand your this query.
I know you are frustrated and it sounds too.
Don't think negative. You will definitely improve.
And come on friend, it's your birthday week. Don't worry, be happy. You should celebrate this week.
Happy Birthday in advance.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Drkaushal85

Pulmonologist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 15005 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
Can Corticosteroids Help Cure Sleep Apnea?

Brief Answer: Better to take inhaled corticosteroids than oral prednisone. Detailed Answer: Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic. I can understand your concern. No, you should not take oral prednisone. Oral steroid is having higher and more serious side effects like osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes, skin lesions, mood swings, Renal damage etc. So better not to take prednisone. Inhaled corticosteroid is far better and safer. They act locally (in lungs). So systemic side effects can be avoided. They will give faster onset of action. So better to take inhaled corticosteroids. Don't take oral prednisone. And it's good that you will be having break from all stress factors. Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.