One of the most common sleep disorders is sleep apnea. Up to 30 million Americans have this chronic condition.
Depression is also a common illness. It affects more than 21 million American adults each year.
Now, recent studies have shown the relationship between the two.
Research reveals that 46% of people with sleep apnea develop symptoms of depression. And people with depression may be more likely to have sleep apnea. (One study showed that 14% of people with depression who were suicidal also had sleep apnea.)
States Robert Miller, Apria Healthcare Vice President of Sleep Business, “The link between sleep apnea and depression is real. Understanding that link can lead to more effective treatment—and a better night’s sleep.”
Not all people with sleep apnea have depression and vice versa. And it’s not clear if one causes the other. But having one may put you at a higher risk of developing the other. And both conditions may worsen the other.
So the relationship between sleep apnea and depression is well-established—and complicated.
Because sleep apnea causes breathing interruptions, it disrupts your ability to fall and stay asleep.
Likewise, spending nights worrying and feeling sad or hopeless results in poor-quality sleep. Over time, sleep deprivation can lead to depression.
Some researchers also theorize that sleep apnea lowers blood oxygen saturation levels, which may contribute to developing depression.
Sleep apnea and depression can be difficult to diagnose because they have many of the same symptoms.
For instance, symptoms of sleep apnea include:
Symptoms of depression include:
As you can see, sleep apnea and depression share many of these same symptoms.
To complicate matters even more, a symptom of depression may be sleeplessness caused by sleep apnea.
Because the symptoms overlap, it can be difficult to identify which condition is causing which symptom. It’s not unusual for people to first notice symptoms of depression before they understand that loud snoring or nighttime gasping are symptoms of sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea that isn’t properly treated can lead to a wide array of serious health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity.
Untreated depression can negatively impact your relationships with family and friends, causes problems at work or school, interfere with your sex life, and even lead to suicide.
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to health complications similar to depression:
CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is considered the “gold standard” of sleep apnea care. And for good reason: more than 8 million Americans enjoy the benefits of this proven effective treatment.
CPAP involves wearing a mask that fits comfortably over your nose or mouth while you sleep. The mask is connected to a machine by your bed that provides a constant, quiet flow of air to keep your airways open so you can breathe—and sleep—normally.
CPAP increases the quantity and quality of your sleep—and in the process improves your energy, blood pressure, and mood, and reduces daytime sleepiness.
“Studies now show that CPAP significantly reduces depressive symptoms in both the short and long term,” reports Apria VP of Sleep Business Robert Miller.
One study followed 2,000 people for four years and demonstrated that 80% of the participants experienced fewer feelings of depression following CPAP therapy.
Regular use of a CPAP machine offers a wide array of benefits for people with sleep apnea and depression:
Treating sleep apnea and depression is complex—but it can be done. If you are having problems sleeping or feeling depressed, contact your doctor.
To confirm if you have sleep apnea, your doctor may prescribe a sleep study.
If your depression is being treated with antidepressants and they aren’t working, a sleep study can also verify if sleep apnea is contributing to your depression.
Apria’s Robert Miller adds, “Once you have the proper diagnosis, work with your doctor to select the most appropriate treatment, including CPAP.”
References
1. Summer, J. (Updated 2022, October 27). Before and After CPAP Machine Effects: How Your Body Changes. Sleep Foundation. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/cpap/before-and-after-cpap-machine-body-changes.
2. CDC study forges link between depression and sleep apnea. American Academy of Sleep Medicine. https://aasm.org/cdc-study-forges-link-between-depression-and-sleep-apnea/.
3. CPAP therapy reduces symptoms of depression in adults with sleep apnea.
American Academy of Sleep Medicine. https://aasm.org/cpap-therapy-reduces-symptoms-of-depression-in-adults-with-sleep-apnea/.
4. Gotter, A. (Updated 2019, July 5). Can Sleep Apnea Cause Depression? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sleep/sleep-apnea-and-depression.
5. Migala, J. (2020, February 18). The Link Between Sleep Apnea and Depression, Anxiety, and Mood. Everyday Health. https://www.everydayhealth.com/sleep/sleep-apnea-link-depression-anxiety/.
6. Dorwart, Z. (2022, March 1). The Co-Occurring Nature of Sleep Apnea and Depression. Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/sleep-apnea-and-depression-5216620.
7. The hidden link between sleep apnea and depression. Philips. https://www.usa.philips.com/c-e/hs/better-sleep-breathing-blog/better-sleep/cpaps-side-benefit-treating-depression.html.
8. The link between sleep apnea and depression. ResMed. https://www.resmed.com/en-us/sleep-apnea/sleep-blog/is-sleep-apnea-related-to-depression/.
9. Sleep Centers of Middle Tennessee. (Updated 2022, May 17). Here’s How Your CPAP Machine Can Decrease Depression. Sleep Centers of Middle Tennessee. https://sleepcenterinfo.com/blog/heres-how-your-cpap-machine-can-decrease-depression/.
10. Berg, S. (2022, April 1). What doctors wish patients knew about sleep apnea.
American Medical Association. https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-sleep-apnea.
11. Basic facts about depression. Mental Health America.
https://www.mhanational.org/conditions/depression#:~:text=Major%20depression%20is%20one%20of,of%20American%20adults%20each%20year.
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