The Importance of Sleep for a Healthy Life
Sleep apnea causes the airway to be blocked during sleep, resulting in snoring and pauses in breathing. When this happens, the brain triggers the body to awaken briefly so you can take a breath. This usually happens several times throughout the night, every night, constantly depriving you of the rest you need.
However, the effects of sleep apnea go beyond snoring and feeling tired. Constant disturbance of sleep quality can cause further changes in your head.
How Sleep Apnea Disturbs the Brain
The sleep cycle is divided into stages, which fall into two categories: Non-REM and REM sleep. Frequent sleep disturbance may cause you to wake up during a REM stage. Though all sleep is important, when in the REM stage the brain is highly active and performs important functions such as processing memories.
When this stage is interrupted frequently, the structure of the brain can change and the balance of certain chemicals connected to regulating emotions and thinking is disrupted. This may cause thinking and memory problems as well as the possibility of developing mental health disorders.
Sleep Apnea’s Effect on Mental Health
Though a variety of factors affect mental health, sleep apnea has been linked to several mental health issues including anxiety, depression, and memory problems. The symptoms of sleep apnea and mental health issues may become intensified if they’re present at the same time.
The good news is with treatment, other conditions associated with sleep apnea usually improve too..
Treatment for a Better Life
Here at Desert Hills Dental Care, we are committed to the best sleep apnea solutions for you. If you believe you may have sleep apnea and experience common sleep apnea symptoms you should seek professional help from your physician. Once you have undergone a sleep study, Dr. Schumacher can help you find a solution for your sleep apnea.
If you receive treatment for sleep apnea but still have concerns about mental illness, ask your physician for a therapist recommendation for further treatment.
Ready to start feeling well-rested and fulfilled? Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation
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, you can improve your anxiety without ever taking prescription medication. Contact our Farmington dental office by calling (505) 427-2936 and one of our knowledgeable team members will be happy to assist you.