Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Sleep

Allergic rhinitis affects a fifth of the population in industrialised countries and sleep disturbance has emerged as one of the major impacts of allergic rhinitis on patients. Sleep disturbances and its consequences on daytime sleepiness and fatigue affects the health related quality of life negatively and contributes significantly to patients’suffering and major health economic costs. Experimental studies have shown that sleep disturbances are induced when the nose is blocked with adhesive tape or petroleum jelly during sleep in healthy individuals. Nasal obstruction is the most commonly reported symptom by patients with allergic rhinitis and it causes an increased number of microarousals (short awakenings). Nasal obstruction is believed to be the most important mechanism behind poor sleep and daytime sleepiness in allergic rhinitis. Relieving nasal obstruction with nasal steroids significantly improves subjective sleep compared to placebo. Allergic rhinitis is present in a majority of patients with asthma. Identifying and treating allergic rhinitis improves sleep and the health related quality of life which reduces patient suffering and potentially saves significant health economic health costs. The present chapter reviews the current literature of allergic rhinitis and its impact on sleep and the health related quality of life.