Information paper

Sleep and asthma information for health professionals

Sleep is essential for good health. Healthy sleep means having a regular sleep–wake cycle, getting enough sleep each day, and enjoying good-quality sleep (falling asleep easily, staying asleep through the night, and feeling refreshed after sleeping). Disruption to any of these can compromise health and wellbeing. Asthma is one of many health conditions associated with poor sleep. Asthma symptoms can disrupt sleep, while sleep disturbances can impair asthma control and quality of life.

Poor asthma control is associated with sleep disturbance

Asthma symptoms during sleep or on waking indicate suboptimal asthma control. Frequent nocturnal symptoms indicate increased risk of acute asthma exacerbations. Some asthma treatments also affect sleep. Sleep disturbance is a common adverse effect of short courses of prednisone/prednisolone to manage asthma exacerbations. Montelukast has been associated with insomnia and disturbed sleep in case reports, case series and pharmacovigilance studies.

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