How A Lack of Sleep Affects You
Life isn’t easy when you have trouble sleeping. If you’ve ever had one night of tossing and turning, you know how you can have trouble concentrating throughout the day. A lack of sleep can lead to dangerous situations and decreased productivity.
When you’re fatigued, you’re more likely to end up in a car accident and even minor sleep loss can put you in danger of losing your job. Getting enough good-quality sleep is vital to your well-being and even the smallest amount could change your life.
Sleep Apnea & Sleep Deprivation
Sleep apnea is a common yet dangerous sleep disorder that disrupts your ability to sleep soundly through the night. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) causes your throat to become blocked while you’re asleep, triggering your brain to wake you in order to breathe.
These sleep interruptions may seem fairly minor, especially because most people don’t even remember them. But they can have a devastating effect on your health because they interrupt REM sleep.
Mental Health is Connected to OSA
REM sleep is the stage of sleep where you dream the most. During this sleep stage, your brain processes memories and releases emotion-regulating chemicals that help you to remain calm throughout the day.
This can impact your ability to think clearly and to make decisions. Sleep apnea can also sap your energy and make it harder for you to do tackle your daily life. You may not feel like yourself when you’re unable to sleep properly.
By interrupting your sleep cycles, sleep apnea can put you at a higher risk of developing anxiety and depression. Fortunately, treatment for sleep apnea can help improve your mental and physical health.
Treatment Can Improve Your Life
Dr. Miriam Dani can help you get your life under control by providing convenient and portable sleep apnea devices. These oral appliances are customized to you, so they’ll fit comfortably in your mouth while you sleep. Unlike CPAP machines, they’re small and don’t make noise.
Getting the sleep you need can breathe new life into you. To learn more, call our office at (847) 268-3439 or fill out the handy contact form at the bottom of the page. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and we’ll be with you right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a deviated septum cause obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
A deviated septum can make your sleep apnea symptoms worse by further narrowing your airway. However, there isn’t any evidence that suggests a deviated septum alone can cause sleep apnea.
In one study, a group of 49 patients with obstructive sleep apnea had surgery to correct their deviated septa. Even though the patients saw improvements in snoring, it was not effective in treating OSA.
Can sleep apnea cause anxiety?
Repeatedly losing sleep creates a deficit in your sleep bank which makes it difficult to handle stressful situations and can lead to 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 higher risk for developing a sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea. This means that if you treat one of the conditions, you may be able to alleviate the other as well.
With an oral appliance, you can improve your anxiety without ever taking a prescription medication. Contact our Kenilworth office to learn more by calling (847) 268-3439 — one of our knowledgeable team members will be happy to answer your questions.