Disturbed sleep
For people with COPD, symptoms such as coughing, chest pain, and frequent nighttime urination may greatly affect sleep. In addition, medications used to treat COPD may cause insomnia or daytime sleepiness.
Common sleeping problems in people who have COPD include:
Trouble going to sleep
Trouble staying asleep
Sleepiness during the daytime
Waking up due to headaches
Waking up due to shortness of breath
Brief periods of not breathing during sleep
Nightmares
People with COPD who have sleeping issues should let their doctor know about their problems as soon as possible. A sleep evaluation can help figure out exactly what is causing the sleep disruption and the best way to treat it.