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COPD and Sleep Apnea: Is There a Link? 

Causes of Both COPD and Sleep Apnea

Both conditions are very similar. They often happen together due to chance.

Here are some of the links with OSA and COPD;

  • Inflammation: Both conditions involve inflammation. The inflammation caused by COPD can worsen the inflammation in obstructive sleep apnea, and vice versa.
  • Cigarette smoking: Smoking cigarettes is a common cause of both conditions. This is because it triggers inflammation.
  • Obesity: Obesity is a strong predictor for having coexisting obstructive sleep apnea. It increases the probability of having OSA to more than 50 percent in men, and approximately 20 to 30 percent in women.