Managing Your Condition/Living With COPD

COPD and Sleep Issues: What You Need To Know

Medically reviewed by Allen J. Blaivas, D.O.

Written by Torrey Kim

Posted on August 10, 2026

Feel better informed on COPD and get real support from your community.

Join

Key Takeaways

COPD and sleep are closely connected, as COPD symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing can make it hard to rest, while poor sleep can make breathing even harder.

View all takeaways

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and sleep are closely connected. COPD can make it hard to sleep, and poor rest can make it harder to breathe well.

“I haven’t been able to sleep for several days and it’s catching up with me, so I’ve been trying to nap on and off all day,” one MyCOPDTeam member said. “I’m feeling really exhausted today and having a bad breathing day.”

Read on to learn about common sleep problems that people with COPD may face, along with tips on sleeping better.

🗳️ Do you have difficulty sleeping due to COPD symptoms or a related sleep disorder?

Yes

Why COPD Can Disrupt Sleep

Sleep issues can be linked to COPD symptoms or they can be caused by sleep disorders that happen alongside COPD.

COPD Symptoms That Make Sleeping Hard

Some of these common COPD symptoms may make it hard to sleep:

Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Coughing

These symptoms are often worse at night, which can affect your ability to sleep well.

Sleep Disorders Linked to COPD

People with COPD often have other sleep disorders as well, including:

Insomnia — Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, as well as waking early or having sleep that isn’t refreshing
Restless legs syndrome — An urge to move certain body parts (usually the legs), especially during sleep, which can make it hard to rest
Hypoxemia — Low levels of oxygen in the blood
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) — A condition that causes you to stop breathing multiple times throughout the night

When COPD and OSA are present at the same time, it’s called overlap syndrome. This can cause your oxygen to drop to dangerous levels while you sleep. The combination raises your risk of having other chronic health issues.

Other Causes of Poor Sleep With COPD

Some people with COPD deal with other symptoms or conditions that can affect sleep.

Acid reflux is a condition that occurs when stomach contents, including acidic fluids, move into your esophagus. It’s common among people with COPD, and can worsen coughing. Acid reflux can increase the frequency of flare ups of COPD. This may make it harder to sleep well.

Anxiety and depression are also more common in people with COPD than in the general population. These mental health conditions can worsen sleep quality.

How Does Poor Sleep Make COPD Symptoms Worse?

If you don’t sleep well, it may make your COPD symptoms worse and make breathing harder. This can cause a cycle of poor sleep, fatigue, and trouble breathing.

Poor Sleep and Flares

One study found that people with COPD and poor sleep were 25 percent to 95 percent more likely to have a flare-up than those who slept well.

A COPD flare is a period when you suddenly have more trouble breathing than usual. These may also be called exacerbations.

Another study found that people with COPD and poor sleep quality were more likely to be hospitalized for a COPD flare.

Poor Sleep and Breathing Issues

Even if you aren’t having a flare, poor sleep can make it harder to breathe. There are a few possible causes of the link between poor sleep and worse COPD symptoms.

Some people with COPD aren’t able to easily breathe out carbon dioxide when they’re lying down. Having too much carbon dioxide in your body is called hypercapnia. This can cause you to wake up with headaches or have more trouble breathing during the day.

In addition, poor sleep can cause fatigue and inflammation in the body. These can both make it harder to breathe.

Plus, if you don’t sleep well, your immune system may not work as well. This can put you at risk of getting sick. Having an illness can affect your breathing and worsen sleep quality.

Tips for Improving Sleep With COPD

If sleeping is a challenge, consider using a few strategies that may help you get more rest.

Ask your doctor about oxygen therapy to increase the amount of oxygen that flows into your lungs while you sleep. Keep in mind that oxygen therapy is only advisable for people with low oxygen levels during sleep.
Talk to your doctor about adjusting your COPD treatment dosage or timing.
Discuss lifestyle changes with your doctor, such as losing weight or quitting smoking, which may affect your sleep.
Treat any underlying conditions, such as anxiety or acid reflux.
Go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time each morning.
Reduce the amount or length of naps that you take during the day.
Start relaxing at least an hour before bed, which may involve limiting screen time, meditating, or taking a warm bath.

Avoid taking sleep medications (such as sleeping pills) without talking to your doctor first. These can make breathing harder. Too much sleep medication can slow your breathing to dangerous levels, so exercising caution is important.

Sleep Tips From MyCOPDTeam Members

Several members of MyCOPDTeam have shared their tips for improving sleep quantity and quality. Here are some of their recommendations:

What Members Are Saying About Improving Sleep

“I have learned to sleep with three pillows to prop me up and have had two incredible nights of sleep.”

“My dentist of all people told me to use two pillows at night. I said I already do, and he said, ‘Then use three.’ It makes breathing so much easier, and then sometimes during the night I toss the third pillow on the floor and go right on snoozing.”

“I limit my nap to 20 to 30 minutes during the day, I exercise daily and I don’t use my computer or cell phone for two hours before bed. I do my breathing exercises, then I go to bed every night at the same time and have nocturnal oxygen so I get a lot of comfort with that. I sleep with my head inclined to 30 degrees to make it easier to breathe with less phlegm drainage.”

When To Call Your Doctor

If you can’t sleep well even after trying several sleep strategies, or you find it hard to breathe when sleeping, contact your pulmonologist. They can evaluate you for other issues, adjust your medications, or refer you to a sleep specialist if needed.

A sleep expert can perform a sleep study to find out if you have a condition like OSA. They can recommend support options, such as sleep apnea treatments. The most common OSA treatment is sleeping with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.