Sleep apnea and anxiety are both significant health concerns that can dramatically impact your well-being. To make matters worse, these conditions often occur together and can intensify each other’s effects, creating a cycle that may be difficult to break. How exactly are they related to each other, and what steps can you take to find a measure of relief? This blog post aims to provide helpful information.
How Does Anxiety Worsen Sleep Apnea?
The relationship between anxiety and sleep apnea is complex, with anxiety having the potential to aggravate sleep apnea in various ways:
- Physical tension and muscle stiffness: Anxiety commonly leads to muscle tightness throughout your body, including in the throat and upper airway. This increased tension can contribute to airway blockages during sleep.
- Disrupted sleep patterns: Anxiety often makes it difficult for you to enjoy restful and uninterrupted sleep. Restlessness and frequent awakenings may occur, which can intensify the symptoms of sleep apnea.
- Stress hormone elevation: Experiencing anxiety may raise levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol. These hormones can interfere with normal respiratory function, making it harder for your body to maintain an open airway during sleep.
How Does Sleep Apnea Affect Anxiety?
Just as anxiety can worsen sleep apnea, living with untreated sleep apnea may heighten feelings of anxiety.
- Sleep deprivation: Sleep apnea interrupts your rest, causing frequent awakenings that lead to chronic sleep loss. A lack of restorative sleep can make you more susceptible to anxiety by reducing your ability to manage stress and regulate emotions.
- Oxygen deprivation: When sleep apnea limits your oxygen intake during sleep, your body may activate a fight-or-flight response. This reaction can increase your heart rate, raise your blood pressure, and trigger feelings of panic or unease.
- Cognitive impairment: Sleep apnea often results in poor concentration, memory issues, and brain fog. These cognitive challenges may leave you feeling overwhelmed and contribute to increased anxiety.
How Can You Find Relief?
Managing sleep apnea and anxiety requires a comprehensive approach. These strategies might help you find relief:
- Oral appliance therapy: Using a custom-fitted oral appliance during sleep can help reposition your jaw and keep your airway open. This treatment is compact, portable, and non-invasive, offering a practical alternative to CPAP therapy for many individuals.
- Weight management: Maintaining a healthy weight lowers the risk of sleep apnea. Plus, regular physical activity and a nutritious diet can support your emotional well-being.
- Stress reduction techniques: Relaxation methods such as deep breathing exercises, mindfulness, and meditation may help lower anxiety and improve sleep quality.
- Seek professional support: Consulting with a mental health professional can provide effective tools for managing anxiety. Therapy and, when appropriate, medication may improve your ability to cope.
You have the power to address both sleep apnea and anxiety! Talk with your care team to start formulating a strategy that will improve your health and quality of life.
Meet the Practice
Dr. Tristan Parry is a highly accomplished dentist and a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. He has completed extensive training in several areas of his profession, including the treatment of sleep apnea with custom oral appliances. If you have been struggling to get enough high-quality rest, he and our team would be happy to help you. Contact Magnolia Shores Dental in Summerfield at 336-728-6153.