There are many medical problems associated with sleep apnea as well as some psychological ones. If the normal, constant flow of oxygen is interrupted during sleep, the brain is deprived of this essential element and it can cause crippling effects. Recognizing and understanding the psychological symptoms that can occur can lead to treatment and relief.
Is Sleep Apnea Dangerous?
Sleep apnea is a very common disorder but many may not know that they have it. Basically, a person can stop breathing while sleeping. Muscles in the throat can relax too much and narrow or even close for a short period of time. The tongue can also fall back across the airway while sleeping also affecting breathing.
The end result is the same: the brain is deprived of necessary oxygen, which contributes to a host of other problems. Snoring is usually present in a person who suffers from sleep apnea. This may be the brain's way of alerting the sleeper that the airway is blocked. The sound of the snoring may be loud enough to wake up the person, who may then change their sleeping position. Sleeping on the side instead of the back may decrease sleep apnea episodes.
Psychological Problems from Sleep Apnea
There can be many physical problems resulting from sleep apnea but the psychological ones are a little harder to recognize and diagnose. The first thing noticed is that the person doesnt get a peaceful nights sleep. A certain amount of sleep is required for the bodys major organs to repair and recharge right down to cellular level.
If this doesn't happen, the person will feel exhausted in the morning. Daytime drowsiness is present, and this overpowering desire to sleep will stay with the person throughout the day. This will cause frustration and irritability, as the person needs to stay awake to perform their daily tasks. Problems with concentration and memory loss are also common. All of these emotions will add up and contribute to a growing sense of depression. The person may even feel like they are losing their mind, as their ability to think clearly is diminished.
They may only want to spend their day in bed to catch up on the rest they think they need but in reality what they should be doing is getting the treatment for their sleep disorder. In extreme cases, thoughts of suicide may come from sleep apnea. The quality and purpose of ones life will decline if there is oxygen deprivation night after night. Anti-depressant drugs are non effective in these situations as the medical condition of sleep apnea needs to be diagnosed and treated first.
Snoring
Snoring is caused by an obstructed airflow movement during breathing while sleeping. The noise made is caused by the vibration of the respiratory structures.
There are several possible causes for snoring, including the following: 1)Throat weakness;in this case the throat tends to close during sleep 2)Mis-positioned jaw; resulting in tension in muscles 3)Fat gathering in and around the throat 4)An obstruction in the nasal passageway
If you snore your weight may be a possible culprit. Losing weight may end the snoring. Smokers are more likely to snore than non-smokers. Most people that do snore have an increased tendency for the activity when sleeping on their back.
A common method to discourage sleeping on the back is to sew a tennis ball or similar object into the back of the shirt or pajamas you sleep in. This will certainly make that position uncomfortable and cause you to roll over.
Alcohol and certain foods have also been associated with snoring. Additionally, some pain medications can result in snoring.
Snoring can be embarrassing and it can put strains on personal relationships. It often results in sleep deprivation and there is a correlation between loud snoring and an increased risk of heart attacks. Obviously snoring should be taken seriously.
Sleep Apnea
Persons with sleep apnea usually snore but sleep apnea is characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. Each pause (or apnea) lasts long enough that one or more breaths are missed; there will usually be about a 10 second interval between breaths.
Sleep apnea has been associated with hypertension. The pauses in breathing can strain the heart and cardiovascular system resulting in an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This is related to the fact that the blood oxygen levels are decreased.
This process of pauses repeats itself throughout the sleep. The individual is usually not aware of the problem and therefore sleep apnea may be present for months or even years before it is recognized as an issue.
Many sufferers of sleep disorders adjust to the daytime sleepiness and fatigue associated with the sleep disturbance and therefore do not seek treatment. Individuals that live alone may not discover that there is a sleep disorder at all for a long period of time.
If you do suffer with snoring the best advice is to seek treatment. There are many natural remedies that can be tried but if you do not find relief with those then professional help is recommended.
Both Rudy Watkins & Debbie Allen are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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