If you’ve been losing sleep due to tossing and turning all night, your body and mind aren’t well rested for the day. You may feel groggy and can’t complete everyday tasks like you usually would. If you feel fatigued throughout the day, you may suffer from sleep apnea.
This sleep disorder causes you to stop breathing multiple times throughout the night, leaving your body deprived of oxygen. Not only is the resulting lack of oxygen and quality sleep bad for your body, but it’s also bad for your mind as well. Discover how sleep apnea affects your mental health and the treatment options our providers offer to patients in the throughout Texas.
On average, depending on your age, you need seven to nine hours of sleep every night to be able to function well throughout the day. Because sleep apnea causes obstruction in your airway, causing your body to wake up multiple times so you can breathe, it results in inconsistent, inadequate sleep patterns.
When you sleep, your brain sends messages to your body, creating different stages of sleep, which make up your REM cycle. For each stage, your brain releases occurring chemicals, contributing to different functions. Sleep apnea disrupts this cycle and hinders the process of releasing chemicals, causing a chemical imbalance in your brain. This imbalance can lead to a variety of mental health issues.
When sleep apnea is left untreated, the chances of mental health issues developing and/or worsening are higher. While mental health is affected by many different factors, sleep apnea has been found to be linked to the following mental health disorders:
The first step to treating sleep apnea is to undergo a sleep study conducted by a professional physician. After receiving your diagnosis, one of our providers can provide you with a personalized treatment plan that suits your needs and condition. We offer oral appliances as an alternative to CPAP therapy so you can sleep soundly.
If your mental health issues continue to persist even with your sleep apnea treatment, it’s important to visit your physician. Your physician can recommend a therapist to diagnose your problems and get you the treatment you need.
Untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. It also causes daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and mood swings. By treating sleep apnea, you can significantly lower these risks and improve your overall health and well-being.
Yes, sleep apnea has been linked to several serious health issues, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke. Treating sleep apnea can reduce these risks and improve your energy levels, mental clarity, and mood, allowing you to lead a healthier life.
If you’re suffering from a lack of sleep to the point it’s affecting your mental health, it’s important to seek professional help. Call our Dallas office at (833) 275-3372 to schedule an appointment with one of our providers to have your problems diagnosed. You can also fill out our convenient contact form below and one of our staff members will get back to you promptly. We proudly serves patients in Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio and the surrounding area.
