Sleep Apnea & Mental Health

Sleep is Crucial for Your Health

Depending on age and other factors, it’s recommended that you get 8-hours of sleep each night. During sleep, your body performs a wide variety of functions, from repairing cells to preparing the brain for another day. 

Sleep apnea disturbs this process, causing lapses of breath dozens of times per hour. This prevents the sufferer from getting quality sleep, impacting nearly every other part of their life. 

The Need for REM Sleep

If you’ve ever had trouble sleeping through the night and felt like you didn’t get enough rest in the morning, then you may have experienced what it’s like to not get enough REM sleep. 

Only during deep REM sleep is the brain highly active, recalling memories which you may perceive as dreams. Ultimately, it’s this REM sleep that’s crucial for helping you feel well-rested, and when it’s disturbed, it can lead to a variety of mental health problems. 

How Does Sleep Apnea Affect Your Mental Health

You probably know the feelings that come from getting poor sleep at night. As you try to focus during the day, you may feel irritable, depressed, fatigued, and have difficulty performing to your full potential. 

From anxiety to problems with memory, sleep apnea can disturb your thought process and cause conditions that interfere with your mental health. When sleep apnea is left untreated, these conditions can quickly become worse. Fortunately, treating sleep apnea also causes the mental health symptoms to subside as it restores your ability to sleep through the night. 

Visit Us to Regain the Quality Sleep You Deserve

A shocking 80% of sleep apnea cases go untreated, but you don’t have to be a statistic. At our practice in Northern Texas, we provide oral appliances that can comfortably open your airway and help you get the sleep you need to perform at your highest potential. Simply contact us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Scott Clinton.