What is the connection between stress and sleep apnea? Years of research have shown that stress is dangerous and can cause harm to your body.
For people suffering from sleep apnea, the CPAP machine is prescribed. This is maintained using a sleep apnea cleaning machine.
Stress puts a strain on your emotional, mental, and physical health. This strain is extended to your sleep and causing sleep apnea in people.
What does sleep apnea mean?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder. This sleep disorder is common but very serious. This condition causes a repeated stop and starts in your breathing while you sleep.
Since the person is usually asleep, the stop and start sleep pattern can happen hundreds of times during your sleep time.
This also happens without your knowledge. So, while you sleep, your breathing stops, then restarts. This continues to happen throughout the night.
Sleep apnea may happen many times for many nights before you notice it. It becomes obvious to you when your airflow gets obstructed when your airway is partially covered.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
- Stoppage of breathing during sleep. (Usually noticed by another person)
- You gasp for air during your sleep
- Wake up with a sore throat and a dry mouth
- You feel excessively sleepy during the day
- Loud snoring
- You find it hard to pay attention while awake
- Unusual Irritability
- Wake up with headaches in the morning
Sleep Apnea and Stress
Stress is like the common problem in the world that doctors keep warning you not to see as normal. Some people are very stressed and have normalized.
What does stress have to do with sleep apnea? Are they related in any way? Well, the answer is yes. Research carried out proved that there is a relationship between stress and sleep apnea.
Stress can cause you to have sleeping problems. Meanwhile, not getting enough rest and sleep can cause stress on your mental, emotional, and physical health.
Not only lack of sleep causes stress to you, but poor-quality sleep as well. That is why people with sleep apnea should contact a doctor to determine if they need therapy.
What Other Way Does Stress Affect Your Sleep?
If you are under severe stress, from work, school, or just the weight of responsibility from everyday life, you probably have sleep apnea.
Stress coupled with lack of sleep or poor sleeping habits can lead to severe mental and emotional conditions like anxiety and depression.
If you wake to gasp for air or gasp for air in your sleep and have been noticed by someone, could be as a result of stress-causing sleep apnea.
Not getting quality sleep or not sleeping at all together with your daily stressful routine is a continuous cycle that does not stop.
To reduce your stress, you should first identify the things that stress you and work to reduce them. You should also seek help and support from family and friends.
Exercise is a recommended help by health professionals for stress relief. Make a plan to exercise daily for as much time that is available to you.
Conclusion
Stress and sleep are in a never-ending cycle. The cycle only stops when you stop stressing yourself. Learn to avoid stressful situations and try to get enough rest.
Remember that if you feel like you have sleep apnea, you should contact your doctor instead of self-diagnosis.
