Sleep Apnea Blog

Archive for the ‘sleep apnea symptoms’ Category

Well I’ve had unrefreshing sleep for about idk 2 years, luckily it hasn’t deteriorated my school grades too much. I’ve also been diagnosed with major depression but I’m thinking is it depression that is affecting my sleep or could it be something else? It always feels as though I never actually go into deep sleep.
basically what are the symptoms of sleep apnea? and you reckon i should check whether i have it just to be completely sure because my antidepressants have done nothing for my sleep.

Sleep apnea can have several causes. The most common is obesity, leading to the neck and throat tissues to narrow the airway while sleeping.

Symptoms include loud snoring, pauses in breathing while asleep followed by an abrupt "snort" or gasp. These would be observed by someone other than you. A person with sleep apnea actually wakes up to start breathing, though they are not conscious of it. They cannot get to the deep levels of restorative sleep. Daytime symptoms include "Pickwickian" spells, or falling asleep while doing normal activities. (like talking, driving, and other things where people don’t normally fall asleep)

So, have a family member or your bed partner watch you sleep to see how many times per night you stop breathing. For sleep apnea it is often 15-100 x per night.

However, depression is a leading cause of poor sleep, and this is most likely what you have. Some antidepressants actually hinder sleep, so ask your doctor. You may also need a sleep aid for 4-6 weeks to "retrain" your body to get deep sleep.

Other things that can lead to poor sleep: poor sleep hygeine (not going to bed a the same time each night, exercise before bed, and many more), chronic caffeine use, other medications, restless leg syndrome.

Talk with your doctor. If it looks, walks, and quacks like a duck, then it’s a duck. I’d bet that your depression is the cause of your sleep problem.

Best of luck