How Sleep Apnea Can Lead To Psychological Issues
Sleep apnea can cause a variety of medical problems, but it’s also been shown to result in psychological ones as well. When the normal and continuous flow of oxygen is interrupted during sleep, the brain is deprived of this vital element and the person can experience debilitating effects. Understanding this condition and recognizing the psychological symptoms that accompany sleep apnea can lead to the proper treatment and a complete relief.
Is Sleep Apnea Dangerous?
Although sleep apnea is a very common disorder, many people may be affected by it but not know they have it. Basically, this condition causes a person to stop breathing during sleep. Throat muscles that relax too much and narrow the airways or even close the opening for a short time can cause this. The tongue can also fall back across the airway during sleep and this will affect breathing.
In the end, the same result happens: the brain losses much needed oxygen which can lead to other problems. Snoring can also be present in a person with sleep apnea. This could be the brain alerting the sleeper that the airway is blocked. The person may wake from the sound of their snoring and then change their sleeping position. You may decrease the episodes by sleeping on your side instead of your back.
Psychological Problems from Sleep Apnea
While there are many physical issues that result from sleep apnea, the psychological ones may be subtler to recognize and accurately diagnose. The first aspect we see in this condition is that the person does not receive a restful night’s sleep. The body requires a certain amount of sleep to restore, repair and recharge the body’s major organs right down to the cellular level.
A person can be exhausted without this in the morning. Drowsiness during the day is present and an intense desire to sleep will stay throughout the day. Frustration and irritability will follow as the person tries to stay awake to perform daily duties. Also there can be problems with concentration and memory loss. Depression can be the ultimate combination of these emotions. A person may feel like they are losing their mind and be unable to focus.
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.
