The symptoms of sleep apnea are extremely disruptive and can drastically impact your quality of life, but they’re not the only health issues a person with this disorder may face.

Sleep apnea is also strongly linked to anxiety and other mental health challenges including depression and memory loss. If you struggle with anxiety or depression, it’s important to know that there are many potential causes for these feelings, and treating your sleep apnea could improve both your physical health and your mental well-being.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

If you have sleep apnea, you may be experiencing a variety of symptoms of the disorder. The mental symptoms include anxiety, depression, and memory loss.

Physical symptoms can also appear from the disorder, including weight gain and heart disease. All of these problems can cause severe stress in your life. They can also make it difficult for you to function on a daily basis because they’re causing so much pain and discomfort that it’s hard to concentrate on anything else.

Anxiety can be caused by sleep apnea, and sleep apnea can aggravate pre-existing anxiety disorders. Lack of sleep can, in turn, exaggerate anxiety and panic, increasing the likelihood of panic attacks.

Panic attacks can drastically impact your life. They are generally characterized by heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, dizziness, a sense of impending doom, a sense of being detached from reality, a sudden feeling of fear, and a fear of losing control. They can occur during sleep or daytime, especially as a lack of sleep can lead to fatigue and anxiety.

Can Sleep Apnea Lead to Anxiety?

Yes. Sleep apnea not only causes anxiety but exasperates the condition. If you have sleep apnea, you may experience some of the following symptoms:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Stress
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches

Treating Sleep Apnea

For many people with sleep apnea, treatment can be as simple as using a CPAP machine. This device delivers a continuous flow of pressurized air into the throat and nose. The pressure helps keep the airways open during sleep, which prevents snoring and improves breathing. Alternatively, an oral appliance also relieves patients from sleep apnea without the discomfort associated with a CPAP machine. An oral appliance is a simple mouthguard-like device that works by pushing or pulling your lower jaw forward. Doing this keeps your tongue in a position that does not block your airway.

Other treatments include:

  • Weight loss (if possible)
  • Avoiding alcohol or sedatives before bedtime
  • Changing sleeping positions to avoid lying flat on your back

Contact Marx Sleep Center For Treatment Today!

Are you having trouble sleeping? Is your sleep disorder negatively impacting your quality of life? Marx Sleep Center provides treatment for sleep apnea and other sleep disorders that suit your individual needs.

If you would like to learn more about how Marx Sleep Center can help you with sleep apnea, contact us today to book a sleep consultation.