Do you have chronic urticaria or chronic persistent hives? This condition can not only be painful, itchy, and embarrassing, it can also be connected to another serious condition known as obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA.Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that occurs when the airway becomes obstructed during sleep. Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include difficulty breathing which results in gasping for air, the stopping and restarting of breathing, waking frequently, low blood oxygen, daytime lethargy, and cognitive impairment. It can also worsen comorbid conditions such as diabetes, cancer, heart conditions, and Alzheimer’s disease.While there are many causes of sleep apnea, it is believed that a major cause is fat around the neck and in the tongue which puts pressure on the airway when the affected person is lying down.But now, a recent study has shown that chronic urticaria could be linked to obstructive sleep apnea, too. Chronic urticaria has many causes, including allergies, infectious illness, physical illness, and autoimmune illness.The study used the STOP-BANG sleep apnea test and observed data from 171 patients with a mean age of 41.9 years. Subjects were either diagnosed with sleep apnea or had risk factors present for sleep apnea, including overweight, obesity, wide neck circumference, age, and gender.As a result, researchers recommend patients who suffer from chronic urticaria also be screened for sleep apnea, especially if they are overweight or obese and/or exhibit symptoms of sleep apnea. If you do believe you could have obstructive sleep apnea or chronic urticaria, speak to your physician about undergoing a sleep study. This can help rule out potential dangers such as sleep apnea, or help you get on an effective regimen to help lessen the severity of your sleep apnea symptoms.For those diagnosed with sleep apnea, Dr. Peterson offers sleep orthotic devices. These devices are generally better tolerated than traditional CPAP therapy, and do not require the use of tubing, machinery, awkward masks, and uncomfortable forced air like CPAP therapy does.Custom orthotics are custom molded to fit your individual mouth, so they fit comfortably and naturally and just may be the solution to sleep apnea you’ve been looking for. To learn more about sleep orthotics, speak to Dr. Peterson today.