Have you been having difficult in staying asleep all through the night? Do you wake up often gasping for breath and that keeps happening through the night? Do you snore? Well, you need to read this.
If you find yourself struggling to fall asleep or have trouble staying asleep, you’ll most likely suffer the consequences the next day. The lack of quality sleep can lead to a number of physical problems including feeling sluggish, an inability to concentrate, and slow reflexes. Without at least 7 hours of sleep per night, you may become anxious. So, the question arises. Is there a correlation between anxiety and sleep apnea?
If you have an undiagnosed case of sleep apnea, you’re probably waking up tired and have difficulties staying awake throughout the following day. This medical condition is characterized by breathing interruptions during sleep cycles. The most common form of the disorder is Obstructive Sleep Apnea, more commonly referred to as OSA. To date, this condition affects roughly 10% of all Americans.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disorder that occurs when the muscles in the throat get too relaxed, completely or partially obstructs your airway, and is characterized by excessively loud snoring among other factors. In many instances, your doctor or healthcare provider can recommend a number of different anti-snoring devices that can effectively alleviate the number of sleep apnea-related snoring episodes that you experience during the night. In addition to excessive loud snoring, OSA is characterized by:
- Choking or gasping for breath
- Daytime grogginess
- Feeling sleepy even when you’ve had a full night’s rest
- Repeatedly waking up for no apparent reason
If left undiagnosed and untreated, you could be facing serious or even life-threatening consequences such as diabetes, heart problems, liver problems, or stroke. According to current statistics, untreated OSA can elevate the risk of coronary heart disease by 30%, heart failure by 140%, and stroke by 60%.
Also Read: 7 Effective Anti-Snoring Remedies
What is Anxiety?
As one of your emotions, anxiety is characterized by tension and worrying thoughts. It can also cause physical changes such as hypertension (high blood pressure) or an increase heart rate. Occasional anxiety is considered normal or typical. However, when it becomes chronic or excessive in nature, it may be labeled as a disorder that requires medical attention.
For example, an individual who has been diagnosed with GAD or Generalized Anxiety Disorder will experience uncontrolled anxiety or worry during most days over a period of 6 months. This can cause problems in personal relationships, at school, at work, or in other aspects of a person’s daily life. The symptoms of anxiety listed in the DSM-5 or “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition“ include:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep, low sleep quality, and other sleep issues
- Dizziness
- Excessive sweating
- Fatigue
- Intrusive or uncontrolled worrying
- Irritability
- Muscle tension
- Restlessness or tension
Other types of anxiety disorders include an extreme fear of specific situations (phobia-related disorders) or recurring panic attacks (panic disorders).
What is Anxiety Sleep Apnea or Sleep Anxiety?
Anxiety sleep apnea or sleep anxiety is the fear or worry of falling asleep. You may be apprehensive or reluctant to fall asleep or you feat that you won’t be able to stay asleep. In some cases, individuals have a fear or phobia about sleeping called “somniphobia.” These individuals are afraid of something bad happening to them during sleep or that they need to stay alert and not fall asleep. Although sleep anxiety can affect a broad range of age groups, the risk is higher among individuals who suffer with:
- Insomnia
- Narcolepsy
- RLS or Restless Leg Syndrome
- Sleep apnea
- Sleepwalking
So how common is anxiety sleep apnea? Research has shown that roughly 40 million Americans suffer with this mental health disorder. We also know those individuals who have anxiety and other mental health disorders often have some form of sleep apnea and either sleep deprivation or sleep disruption. Sleep deprivation creates havoc with the chemical balance in the brain and that in turn, leads to behavioral changes and mood swings. Everyone needs to sleep for at least 7 to 8 hours within a period of 24 hours. Do you know that if tend to snore more if you are over exhausted? Lack of proper sleep is one of the key reasons for risk of snoring.
Is there actually a Link between Anxiety and Sleep Apnea?
Anxiety and sleep apnea share some common symptoms including daytime fatigue and insomnia. In fact, there have been cases where individuals have mistaken one with the other before receiving a proper diagnosis. More importantly is the fact that anxiety and sleep apnea can cause a vicious, ongoing cycle. The lack of sleep that results from either disorder makes it extremely difficult for your brain to deal with everyday stress, thereby making both of them worse.
Also Read: In What Stage Of Sleep Does Snoring Occurs
A brief Word about Snoring attributed to Sleep Apnea
Individuals with sleep apnea typically snore excessively and loudly. Currently, there are CPAP machines, lifestyle changes, oral appliances, and other anti-snoring devices that can alleviate or reduce snoring episodes. There are plenty of over the counter remedies that are available including chin straps, nasal strips and more that can be tried.
However, there is also Asonor Anti-snoring Spray and Solution developed by TannerMedico. The different aspects and causes of snoring were carefully researched and studied during the development of this product.
As a result, this nasal spray has been proven in clinical trials to help chronic snorers achieve better quality sleep in 3 out of every 4 cases studied. To learn more about this amazingly effective anti-snoring solution, e-mail us at [email protected] or visit our website today. Our business representatives are available to take your calls and offer you pertinent information on snoring and our product. Call now!