There’s a complex link between sleep apnea and depression. We can see that depression causes sleep problems and sleep problems can contribute to depression. At AZ Sleep & TMJ Solutions in , we provide dental sleep medicine services in order to be your first line of defense against sleep apnea and other conditions. By visiting Dr. Sara, we can help treat sleep apnea, which is potentially linked to depression.
What is the connection?
As dental and medical fields continue to advance, so do the links. Recently, we have seen a link between sleep apnea and depression. This is especially true because insomnia is very common among depressed patients. Evidence even suggests that people with insomnia are 10 times more likely to develop depression than those who actually get a good night’s sleep.
For those who are depressed, they can suffer from a variety of insomnia symptoms, including difficulty falling and staying asleep, unrefreshing sleep and daytime sleepiness. Obstructive sleep apnea is linked with depression because it has been found that people with depression are five times more likely to suffer from sleep-disordered breathing. Yikes!
Sleep apnea treatment
The good news is that treating sleep apnea may improve depression. In many cases, because symptoms of depression often overlap with symptoms of sleep apnea, there can be a risk for misdiagnosis. If you suffer from depression, it is important to be screened for sleep apnea. To better understand your symptoms we might ask you about snoring, breathing pauses while sleeping, disrupted sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness.
For more information on sleep apnea, please contact Dr. Sara at AZ Sleep & TMJ Solutions in Scottsdale. Proper treatment of sleep apnea will help you find relief from sleep apnea, as well as depression.