Your Life Without Sleep
If you struggle with sleep deprivation, it can have a serious impact on your daily life and activities. Not only does sleep deprivation lower your concentration and productivity, but it also puts you at higher risk for accidents. Suffering from sleep apnea can be an everyday battle that can significantly impact your overall well-being.
Sleep apnea is a common disorder that causes you to frequently wake up throughout the night due to a blockage in the airway. The interruption in your breathing prompts your brain to signal you to wake up, causing multiples disturbances to your sleep during the night.
Most people need about seven to nine hours of sleep on average each night to function at their full potential. Lack of sleep can cause fatigue, irritability, and a variety of other consequences for your overall health.
Sleep Apnea’s Impact On The Brain
Sleep apnea causes the airway to be blocked during sleep, resulting in snoring and pauses in your breathing. When you stop breathing, your brain will trigger your body to wake up and resume normal breathing. Oftentimes, people with sleep apnea don’t remember waking up during the night.
With sleep apnea, your REM sleep cycle endures repeated interferences, causing a chemical imbalance in your brain. This imbalance can trigger a range of emotions and sometimes lead to mental health issues.
When your brain undergoes an imbalance of chemicals, you become more irritable and can have difficulty processing your emotions. Many factors contribute to mental health disorders, but those with sleep apnea may face a higher risk of developing depression and anxiety.
Fortunately, sleep apnea treatment can help those who suffer from this sleep disorder and any related mental health effects.
Sleep Apnea & PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder is no longer a hush-hush topic, as military personnel continue to return from combat situations having to reintegrate into society. Shallowness of breath, waking up with nightmares from past stressful situations, and feeling as though they are always on guard are all factors that contribute to sleep apnea.
Everything about PTSD is indicative of sleep apnea as well. Men and women who are in severe, stressful situations tend to fall into sleep apnea patterning. Being jarred out of sleep at night due to lack of air, gasping for air at night, concentration or memory problems, headaches in the morning, and feeling tired and fatigued all day are the main symptoms of PTSD-induced sleep apnea.
Managing Your Sleep Apnea & PTSD
There are a few helpful tips that can be utilized to help you better manage your PTSD and sleep apnea, such as:
- Setting up a routine schedule – Sticking to a regular exercise and sleeping schedule can help in a big way. It’s wise to not engage in strenuous exercise at least six hours before bedtime. Otherwise, muscles and heart rate are likely to have difficulties calming down. Getting in the habit of going to bed around the same time every night as well as waking up around the same time every morning will help your body get accustomed to sleeping soundly.
- Monitor your eating and drinking habits – It’s helpful to document what you eat and at what time. Heavy fats or sugar before bedtime will disrupt your sleep, as your metabolism is too busy digesting and unable to allow your entire system to shut down. Avoid alcohol if possible, as it can aggravate the effects of sleep apnea and make sleeping difficult.
- Adopting healthy sleeping protocols – Try to avoid or limit naps during the day, especially after 3 p.m. If you try to force yourself to sleep when you’re not tired, it won’t work. If you find yourself waking up during the night, try reading a book or drinking chamomile tea, as this can help your body return to a peaceful state.
- Relaxation – Make your bedroom surroundings as tranquil as possible. Soft lighting before bedtime, turning off all electronics, and engaging in some mindful breathwork will all contribute to a better night’s rest.
Contact Dr. Winkelmann For Sleep Solutions
Dr. Winkelmann offers a variety of specialized treatments to fit your lifestyle and needs. If you feel the symptoms you’re experiencing may be linked to sleep apnea, call our Wake Forest office at (984) 237-1013 and schedule a consultation with Dr. Winkelmann.
Once you’ve undergone a sleep study and received a proper diagnosis, he’ll work with you to develop a customized treatment plan that fits your specific needs.