The Link Between Sleep Apnea, Anxiety, and Depression

Obstructive sleep apnea has been identified as a serious medical sleep disorder affecting millions of Americans, often without their knowledge. These individuals awake each morning tired, achy, depressed, and confused about why they can't seem to get a good night's sleep, in spite of going to bed early. They overreact, lose their temper, cry more frequently, and can become irrational.

The word apnea translates to "without breath". Individuals with sleep apnea tend to lose their ability to breathe as they sleep, due to a collapsing airway. This sleep disorder means the individual must wake up momentarily after going without oxygen for too long. When this happens minute by minute, hour by hour, night after night, the effects can be devastating, both mentally and physically. The problem is not the number of hours of sleep they get each night. The problem is the number of times they wake up each night to start breathing again.

\"sleep Apnea\"

Sleep Deprivation Leads To Psychotic Episodes

The Link Between Sleep Apnea, Anxiety, and Depression

Sleep deprivation, as any new parent can tell you, can be a highly destructive and tortuous situation. Being woken up again and again throughout the night makes it impossible for your mind or your body to get the rest needed to function properly. To complicate matters even more, the brains of sleep deprived individuals end up with an over stimulated amygdala, which shuts down the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is the center for logical reasoning and the source of calming chemicals. The amygdala, on the other hand, is the Lizard Brain that initiates the "fight or flight" response.

To prepare for perceived conflicts, the amygdala releases chemicals that increase heart rate, glucose levels, and blood pressure. Being constantly "on alert" drains the mental and physical resources of the person suffering form sleep apnea. In contrast, individuals who are able to sleep through the night, both due to healthy airways or the use of CPAP machines or BIPAP machines, are able to think rationally, awake rested, and control their emotions.

Loss Of Sleep Means Loss Of Control

Sleep apnea frequently results in emotional problems such as depression and anxiety. While this sleep disorder is easily resolved with CPAP machines or BIPAP machines, many sufferers ignore their symptoms until they become unbearable, often resulting in difficulties at work, failed relationships, and debilitating depression.

Compromised thought processes resulting from sleep apnea make individuals with this sleep disorder lose their ability to think rationally or to control their emotions. Instead of losing your spouse, your career, or your good health to this treatable sleep disorder, a simple visit to your doctor's office can start you on the path to better health and clearer thinking.

CPAP Machines And BIPAP Machines

CPAP machines and BIPAP machines provide nearly instant relief from the negative effects of sleep apnea by correcting this sleep disorder. CPAP machines deliver air through a CPAP mask, worn as you sleep. While it does take a few nights to get used to, the results are astounding and immediate. BIPAP machines operate in a similar fashion but they provide a higher pressure inhalation and a lower pressure exhalation. Your doctor can tell you which system will help you to get the good night's sleep your mind and body so desperately need.

The Link Between Sleep Apnea, Anxiety, and Depression

Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on Sleep apnea, please visit http://www.cpapwholesale.com/.

What's the Difference Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Central Sleep Apnea?

We usually hear sleep apnea being talked about as a condition that's signified by loud, chronic snoring. But that's not always the case. When a person suffers from obstructive apnea, they snore as air pushes past a totally or partially blocked airway, with the breathing interruptions happening at least 5 and sometimes in excess of 30 times an hour. If you share your bed with someone who hasn't resolved his or her obstructive apnea, you know how annoying this can be. Not only do the breathing interruptions result in your partner's moving from a state of deep sleep to light sleep, but they can have the same effect on you, leaving both of you feeling tired, irritable and unable to concentrate during waking hours.

However, if your partner suffers from central apnea, you may not be aware that he or she is experiencing sleep apnea. Unlike obstructive apnea that results from a block airway, central apnea is caused by the brain's ineffectively communicating the correct breathing actions to the breathing muscles. Consequently, the sufferer intermittently gasps for air instead of snoring. Central apnea is less common that obstructive apnea, but it's no less dangerous to a person's long-term health. Both obstructive and central apnea can increase a person's risk for a myriad of negative health conditions, including high blood pressure, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, obesity, depression and poor concentration. But the most damaging effect of sleep apnea is its weakening of the immune system. As with all sleep problems, the insufficient sleep that results form apnea causes immune cells to function with less efficiency and therefore decreases the body's ability to fight off infection and disease.

\"sleep Apnea\"

So, what's the best way to determine the presence of apnea and then resolve it? The first step is to make an appointment with your general physician or schedule a consultation with a sleep medicine clinic. Your physician may be able to conclude that you suffer from apnea upon conducting a physical investigation, especially considering that enlarged tonsils and obesity commonly result in obstructive apnea. But when apnea is suspected and its cause isn't immediately obvious, receiving a polysomnogram from a sleep clinic is the best way to determine the cause of apnea, especially in the case of central apnea.

What's the Difference Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Central Sleep Apnea?

A polysomnogram is a non-invasive procedure that uses sensors to monitor a person's brain functions and physical movements as they sleep. After the test reveals the nature and the cause of the apnea, the correct course of treatment in determined. Apnea treatments range from sleep masks that prevent the closing of airways to prescription medication to surgical procedures, with surgery being the least common treatment.

Whatever course of apnea treatment your physician recommends, it's important that you or your partner receive the treatment as soon as possible. If surgery is recommended and you begin to feel that the sleep disturbances and daytime tiredness are preferable to undergoing an operation, remember that untreated apnea predisposes you serious medical conditions that are also likely to require surgery.

What's the Difference Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Central Sleep Apnea?

Snoring is the most common sign of obstructive sleep apnea. But just because you don't snore doesn't mean that you don't have sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea usually occurs without snoring but is equally dangerous. For help with apnea and other sleep problems, contact your physician or a sleep clinic. Visit FusionSleep.com for more information and get a good nights rest.

What is the Difference Between CPAP and BIPAP Ventilation?

Do you deal with sleep apnea or other breathing problems?

If so, then you may find yourself needing a breathing machine, such as a CPAP or BIPAP machine. If you have to use one of these machines, you'll need to know the differences between them and how they work. So, let's take a closer look at these machines and masks, how they work, when to use them, and the differences between them.

\"sleep Apnea\"

What is a CPAP Machine?Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, also known as CPAP is a method of take positive pressure and applying it inside the throat in order to keep it from collapsing while you are sleeping. The mask is hooked up to this machine and it is worn over the nose and is connected to a CPAP pump. This pump then applies pressure to the throat through the mask in order to keep your throat from collapsing. While many people tend to stop using their mask within the first year, finding a mask that fits and feels comfortable can provide a solution to this problem. Usually these masks are made out of silicon and it then makes a seal over your nose. New gel filled masks are also available, and many people find them more comfortable

What is the Difference Between CPAP and BIPAP Ventilation?

What is a BIPAP Machine?The BIPAP machine is also a breathing machine designed to help patients breath easier. Not only does this machine help to push some air into the lungs, but it also helps to get more oxygen into the lungs by holding them open. This machine is adjustable and can sense the amount of pressure to use when exhaling and inhaling. The mask that goes along with this machine goes simply over the face, usually the mouth and nose, and creates a seal so the air pressure goes into your body.

When to Use These MasksIf you happen to have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, then more than likely you'll want to use the CPAP machine, since it is great for people who deal with mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Most people who use these machines regularly see great improvement and it can be adjusted in such a way to make sure that normal breathing is restored while you are sleeping. However, a person who has severe problems with emphysema should never use a CPAP machine.

Many doctors actually use BIPAP machines for patients who are not totally able to breath on their own. This helps to get more oxygen in their blood. Of course BIPAP machines are also used to treat sleep apnea. This is usually a treatment for those who have more severe apnea problems or for those who have a hard time dealing with the CPAP machines. The machines also help to prevent snoring as well.

The Difference Between the TwoSo, what is the real difference between CPAP ventilation masks and BIPAP ventilation masks? Well, the difference is actually quite simple. The CPAP machines apply continuous pressure to the airways and have only one level of pressure. However, the BIPAP machines have two different pressures. Higher amounts of pressure are applied when the patient is breathing in, while lower pressure is used when they are breathing out. Both machines do well for treating mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea; however, the BIPAP machines are better for severe obstructive sleep apnea and also are effective in treating central sleep apnea as well.

So, as you can see, both types of machines can be extremely useful for treating sleep apnea. Many suffers of sleep apnea actually end up preferring the BIPAP machines, and it is easy to see why. Instead of dealing with that constant pressure that CPAP machines use, the pressure of the BIPAP machines vary, while you are inhaling and exhaling.

What is the Difference Between CPAP and BIPAP Ventilation?

Jason R Davidson owns and operates [http://www.cpapreview.net] - CPAP [http://www.cpapreview.net] Visit the site for more product reviews and information on how to get the best from your CPAP equipment check.