Kath Hope
Founder & CEO, Hope2Sleep Charity
Sleep apnoea is a serious medical condition and, if left untreated, can lead to not only physical health issues, as well as raises the risk of developing mental health disorders.
The issue at hand today is that most people who suffer from sleep deprivation are not aware that they are suffering from sleep apnoea at all. In fact, of the 8 million sleep apnoea sufferers in the UK, it is said that 85% go undiagnosed and, therefore, untreated.
Awareness of the signs of sleep apnoea
Kath Hope, Founder & CEO of the Hope2Sleep charity discusses her own experience: “When my own severe sleep apnoea diagnosis showed I stopped breathing 30+ times per hour, my consultant informed me I was only getting the equivalent of four hours sleep out of the eight I thought I was having.
“I suffered for years with anxiety and panic attacks, which vastly improved once my continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy started. Each time I collapsed with ‘nervous exhaustion’, my GP always asked if I was sleeping well and I assured him I was, although little did I know what was really happening.”
If you snore or are aware of stoppages in breathing during sleep, please investigate the possibility of undiagnosed sleep apnoea.
Link between mental health and sleep apnoea
Awareness of the link between mental health and sleep apnoea is improving. There have been several studies released showing that sleep apnoea raises the risk of anxiety, depression, PTSD and even conditions like schizophrenia and psychosis.
Furthermore, some medications required to treat these mental conditions can even make sleep apnoea worse, which is why it’s crucial to be checked for sleep apnoea, especially in snorers. Medication should not be changed without discussion with a doctor.
Diagnosis and treatment
In most cases, once sleep apnoea is diagnosed and treated, patients can find the symptoms of mental and/or emotional problems improve and in some they even go away entirely.
If you snore or are aware of stoppages in breathing during sleep, please investigate the possibility of undiagnosed sleep apnoea. Even snoring without sleep apnoea can cause interrupted and unrefreshed sleep. It could be the missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle leading to improved mental, emotional and physical health.
