Sleep Deprivation Hits Hard
When you’re going through your day feeling drowsy and in a daze, you’re at a greater risk for accidents. Losing several hours of sleep challenges your patience and ability to concentrate. If you suffer from sleep apnea, this is an everyday battle that can have a serious impact on your well-being.
Sleep apnea is a common disorder that causes you to frequently wake up each night due to a blockage in your airway. The interruption in your breathing prompts your brain to signal your body to wake up.
The average person needs seven to nine hours of sleep each night to function at their full potential, depending on age. Lack of sleep can result in fatigue, irritability, and more serious consequences to your health.
If you feel exhausted each day, there’s a possibility you’re suffering from sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea’s Impact On Your Brain
Waking up multiple times a night disrupts your REM sleep cycle, this is the time when your brain sends messages to your body to process and regulate emotions. These messages, or chemicals, contribute to your body’s different functions.
Without a good night’s rest, everyday responsibilities become challenging and your work ethic can decline, leading to an increased risk of unemployment. This small disturbance can have a significant effect on your health, especially for those who suffer from sleep apnea.
If you have sleep apnea, your REM cycle endures repeated interferences, causing a chemical imbalance in your brain. This imbalance triggers a range of emotions and sometimes leads to mental health issues. Oftentimes, people with sleep apnea don’t remember waking up during the night.
Sleep Apnea & Your Mental Health
When your brain undergoes an imbalance of chemicals, you become more irritable and have difficulty processing your emotions. Many factors contribute to mental health disorders, but those with sleep apnea face a higher risk of developing depression and anxiety.
Fortunately, sleep apnea treatment can help those who suffer from this sleep disorder and a mental health disorder.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the connection between sleep and mental health?
Poor sleep has been shown to significantly worsen the symptoms of many mental health issues. Problems sleeping can be secondary to a medical illness such as sleep apnea, or a mental health condition like depression. In addition to affecting sleep itself, many medical and mental health conditions can be worsened by sleep-related problems.
Can sleep apnea cause anxiety?
Repeatedly losing sleep creates a sleep deficit, which can make it difficult to handle stressful situations and lead to possible anxiety. While there’s a definite connection between sleep apnea and anxiety, it’s often unclear whether the loss of sleep is causing anxiety or the anxiety itself is causing the disorder.
Unfortunately, it may also be a two-way connection. Patients who suffer from anxiety might be at a higher risk of developing a sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea. This means that if you treat one of the two conditions, you may be able to alleviate the other as well.
With an oral appliance, your sleep apnea symptoms can be alleviated as well as your anxiety. Contact our Nashua office by calling (603) 237-1124 if you’re interested in learning more, and one of our knowledgeable team members will happy to assist you.
Will sleep apnea worsen my existing mental health condition?
When left untreated, sleep apnea can worsen existing mental health conditions and lead to other negative conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and more. Receiving quality sleep is important for your mental wellness and your cognitive performance. It’s crucial to seek professional help for sleep apnea in order to alleviate your symptoms. Call our Nashua office by calling (603) 237-1124 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Ura today.
Will treating sleep apnea help resolve my mental health issues?
Sleep apnea treatment only resolves issues caused by disordered sleep breathing and diminished sleep quality. If you have an existing mental health issue, sleep apnea treatment may not resolve your issue. However, seeking treatment can alleviate your sleep apnea symptoms and make it easier to isolate and treat your mental health condition.
Visit Dr. Ura to Feel Energized Again
Take the next step and schedule a free consultation with Dr. Ura to discuss which treatment is right for you. The Center for Dental Sleep Health offers quiet, travel-friendly, and easy-to-use alternatives to treat sleep apnea.
If you have any questions, give our Nashua office a call at (603) 237-1124 or fill out our contact form and we’ll get back to you soon. Dr. Ura and our team proudly provide services to the Nashua community as well as surrounding areas such as Hudson, Merrimack, and Milford, NH. Reclaim your sleepless nights today.