Can sleep apnea lead to sleep apnea depression

1. Can sleep apnea lead to sleep apnea depression? There has been a growing interest in the field of sleep apnea depression. Several studies have shown a link between depression and sleep disorders, including sleep apnea. Research indicates people with insomnia are at a ten times greater risk of becoming depressed than those with more normal sleep patterns. However, the causal relationship between sleep apnea and depression is difficult at best to verify. Do sleep disorders cause depression or does depression contribute to sleep disorders Or a mix of both? Well, first of all, sleep apnea does cause certain symptoms that are usually associated with depression. Understanding the impact of sleep apnea on emotions and your state of mind can help in the research related to how sleep apnea depression can result. We know that sleep apnea can place a tremendous amount of physical stress on a person. Since an individual with sleep apnea may stop breathing as many as 10 to 50 times per hour, his or her blood chemistry gets drastically altered with decreased oxygen levels and correspondingly high levels of carbon dioxide. This can have deleterious effects on mood, memory, and general equilibrium. In addition, lack of high-quality sleep has been shown to cause increased levels of daytime fatigue, irritability, anxiety, and stress. Sleep apnea can also cause high blood pressure leading to heart and kidney damage as well as stroke and in some cases sleep apnea can be the reason for urinary incontinence or the vice-a-versa. If that isn’t bad enough, up to 74% of moderate to severe sleep apnea sufferers wake in the morning with a sleep apnea headache too, further compounding their physical ailments and mood. So, we know sleep apnea causes many severe physical ailments but what about sleep apnea depression? Depression, specifically, has to be isolated and evaluated. A lot more research needs to be done.

2. Sleep Apnea Depression Testing & Treatment. Not everyone with depression has sleep apnea. Depression has many possible causes that go well beyond the scope of this post. But, if you are feeling depressed and you have any of the classic symptoms of sleep apnea such as snoring, obesity, daytime sleepiness, weak bladder issue or irritability, and/or morning headaches you should speak with your doctor. Ask him/her if your depression could be caused by sleep apnea. Discuss whether you are a candidate for a sleep apnea test also called a polysomnography. Overnight tests in a sleep apnea clinic might be prescribed. If your doctor agrees, find out if you are a good candidate for home sleep testing. You may be able to get tested at home and avoid the expense and inconvenience of a sleep lab. If you are diagnosed with OSA(Obstructive sleep apnea), your doctor has many available treatment options. The gold standard and most common sleep apnea treatment is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or CPAP.

3. Pressurized air delivered through a sleep apnea mask or mouthpiece prevents the soft tissue in the throat from collapsing and blocking the airway. It works very well but as previously noted, about 50% of people don’t comply with treatment. For those seeking CPAP Alternatives, dental appliances such as mandibular advancement splints can be an effective alternative. They work by repositioning the jaw and/or tongue preventing airway blockage. If your sleep apnea is an occurrence UI then a panty liner or use of a urinary incontinence brief can be helpful to prevent that midnight sleep order thus helpful in managing sleep apnea.

4. For others, surgery is a good option. Talk with your doctor to determine the best treatment for your sleep apnea depression. Medications are still the first line of treatment for many individuals with depression. If you have been diagnosed with depression and you suspect you may have sleep apnea depression, see your medical provider. Find out if you have sleep apnea and if sleep apnea treatment can help resolve your sleep apnea depression. Source