The Psychological Effects of Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder that interferes with your ability to breathe normally while asleep. If left untreated, OSA can negatively impact your mental health, interfering with your quality of life and keeping you from feeling your best.
Unfortunately, sleep apnea can be difficult to diagnose, especially when the symptoms appear similar to other mental health disorders. Luckily, Dr. Grivas offers sleep studies to diagnose patients and solutions to help treat the disorder. Read our guide below to understand the relationship between sleep apnea and mental health.
Emotions and Feelings
Without proper sleep, your brain doesn’t have the opportunity to produce emotion-regulating chemicals that allow for clear and rational thinking. Over time, these imbalances can become worse and create serious issues. As a result, you may run into trouble during social situations as well as maintaining a positive attitude.
Focus and Concentration
Along with difficulty with regulating your emotions, sleep apnea can also prevent your body and brain from recharging properly. As a result, simple tasks in your day-to-day life that require concentration may become extremely difficult to complete. This decline in productivity can lead to higher levels of stress, making work a significant challenge. If you find yourself unable to stay focused on a task for a normal amount of time, consider how much quality sleep you’ve been getting recently.
Memory Loss
Do you struggle with remembering specific names or dates for events? If you suffer from sleep deprivation brought on by OSA, it can impact your overall working memory. Our brains pick up on small details throughout the day to help make our lives more cohesive. When your memory retention begins to suffer, your performance suffers as well, leading to further frustration and complications. Many of these symptoms may be resolved by seeking treatment for sleep apnea.
Depression and Anxiety
If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to severe mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. Experts have proven a link between these issues, as patients commonly exhibit symptoms including exhaustion, irritability, and an inability to maintain long-term interest in hobbies or certain activities.
Sleep Apnea Solutions
If you believe your mental health has been impacted by OSA, Dr. Grivas can provide you with treatment options when you schedule your initial consultation at our Sacramento office. By undergoing a sleep study,we can properly diagnose you with sleep apnea and our expert staff can prescribe long-term solutions that will have you getting a good night’s sleep again.
At Sac Sleep & Breathing, we offer CPAP alternatives to treat your OSA, such as convenient oral appliances. Dr. Grivas will work with you to form a personalized treatment plan and make sure that you’re receiving the best care possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens during a sleep study?
A sleep study is the only way to accurately diagnose OSA for our patients. This non-invasive test monitors your brain and body at night, measuring your heart rate, snoring, body movements, breathing, and more to look for any possible disruptions in your sleep patterns. The data gathered will be used by Dr. Grivas to further evaluate your condition and determine which treatment options are best for you.
Will my insurance cover my sleep apnea treatment?
The cost of sleep apnea treatment varies depending on the severity of your case. Most insurance providers will fully cover or pay a portion of your sleep apnea treatment. During your initial consultation, Dr. Grivas will go over your potential treatment options and provide you with a rough estimate. You can also learn more about payment by exploring our financial options.
What if I don’t seek treatment for sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea won’t go away on its own unless treated by an experienced dental expert like Dr. Grivas. If left untreated, the disorder can severely affect your mental health, with the consequences also being potentially life-threatening. Studies have shown sleep apnea to be linked to a higher risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other serious conditions.
Give Yourself the Rest You Need
Dealing with the stress and restlessness of sleep apnea can lead to serious mental health struggles that are otherwise avoidable. With prompt and effective sleep apnea treatments, we can help you combat sleep apnea for days that aren’t bogged down with fatigue or other mental health issues. Call our Sacramento office at (916) 735-4060 or fill out our contact form online to schedule an appointment with Dr. Grivas and get started on the track to a healthier life.