Effects of Compression Stockings in Asthma Symptoms at Night
Effects of Compression Stockings in Asthma Symptoms at Night
Nocturnal worsening of asthma is common. It is characterized by overnight exacerbation of
 asthma symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing, and wheezing,
 increased need of asthma medications and airway hyperresponsiveness, and decline in lung
 function (1). Nocturnal asthma has been attributed in part to circadian variations in lung
 function and airway inflammation. However, other factors including sleep, supine posture and
 lung volume may also contribute to nocturnal asthma. Current treatments often improve
 nighttime asthma symptoms. Nevertheless, nocturnal asthma is still common. Up to 2/3rd of
 asthma patients report nocturnal asthma symptoms, and many asthma related events occur at
 night, indicating poor asthma control. Results from an ongoing study suggest that in asthma
 while subjects were supine, fluid shifted out of the legs and accumulated in the thorax
 (rostral fluid shift) contributing to lower airway narrowing in asthma. A previou study has
 shown that wearing compression stockings during the day reduces fluid retention in the legs,
 reduces nocturnal rostral fluid shift out of the legs, and improves sleep apnea (2, 3). The
 aims of the proposed study is investigate whether off-the-shelf, below the knee compression
 stockings will attenuate nocturnal fluid shift and lower airway narrowing in asthma.
Inclusion Criteria: non-smokers or former smokers (<10 pack/year)

 Exclusion Criteria: history of hypertension, or taking any prescribed medication for this
 disorder.