If you struggle with sleep apnea, then you may already know how it impacts your overall health. You may feel more exhausted during the day or be at a higher risk of certain issues, but it’s not only your body that’s affected. Your mental well-being may be influenced, as you may be at a higher risk of developing anxiety. If you already have it, then it can worsen this condition or vice versa. Here’s what you should know.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
As a quick refresher, sleep apnea is when someone wakes up repeatedly during the night because they stop breathing for several episodes an hour. This will make it harder for their body to get the quality rest they need to feel rejuvenated in the morning. The most common form of this condition is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is when the muscles in the throat relax and block the airways.
How Is Anxiety and Sleep Apnea Related?
When you don’t get enough sleep for just one night, you may know how it changes your mood. However, turn this into a chronic issue with OSA, and you may open a whole new can of worms. Aside from being more irritable, it’s possible you’ll struggle managing and coping with your stress. As it weighs you down, any anxiety you have may worsen.
In fact, those with either one of these conditions or both often develop sleep anxiety as a result. This is when someone is distressed about falling or staying asleep. It’s a form of anticipatory anxiety, which is essentially feeling a sense of dread.
With that said, one can worsen the other, but it hasn’t been found that there’s a causative relationship. Instead, it’s important to make sure you manage both to ensure neither can affect your overall well-being.
Is There Anything I Can Do About My Sleep Apnea and Anxiety?
If you suffer from sleep apnea or anxiety, then it may be tough to imagine what you can do to treat either. Thankfully, you aren’t alone, and there are professionals who are here to help you. Your dentist can give you the effective solution you need for your OSA. Oral appliance therapy is often recommended because it’s something you wear at night that will keep your airways open.
When it comes to your mental health, you can try calming activities like meditation or breathing techniques to reduce stress. These can be helpful for some, but medications and professional therapy can be considered as well.
Regardless, it’s important you get both conditions handled for your overall health. Doing so can help you get toward more restful nights and a clearer mind.
About the Practice
At Exceptional Dentistry, our compassionate team is dedicated to helping patients achieve healthier rest. We understand how sleep apnea can have an impact on your overall and mental health, so we are here to help you treat your OSA. By getting you a diagnosis, we can then tailor a treatment plan that works for your unique needs. If you have been struggling with this condition, schedule an appointment or call our office at (301) 460-3331.