All posts by admin
 

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Memory Loss: What’s the Link?

Did you know that people suffering from sleep apnea are at a 50% higher risk of experiencing memory and thinking issues, as well as at a higher risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s? Surprisingly but true, studies have shown a close connection between sleep apnea and memory loss. So, let’s have a closer look at the link between them.

Sleep Apnea Overview

In short, sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by repeated breathing interruptions during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA) are the two main types of the disorder.

The breathing interruptions in OSA happen as a result of blocked airflow due to relaxed muscles in the upper airway, whereas CSA occurs because the brain fails to send the right signals to the breathing muscles.

Furthermore, sleep apnea is characterized by the following symptoms:

  • Very loud snoring
  • Breathing interruptions during sleep
  • Gasping for air during sleep
  • Extreme daytime fatigue
  • Poor sleep quality
  • Dry mouth in the morning
  • Morning headaches
  • Insomnia
  • Concentration and focus issues
  • Mood issues like irritability

The Link Between Sleep Apnea, Brain Function, and Memory Loss

The truth is, even though the brain takes up only 2% of our body weight, it uses around 20% of our oxygen. In other words, it needs quite a huge amount of oxygen to work and function well. So, how does sleep apnea affect brain function? Here’s the answer:

Namely, as sleep apnea patients stop breathing numerous times a night, the levels of oxygen in the blood can drop significantly, thus restricting oxygen flow to the brain tissue. As a result, structural damage in the brain and brain function changes can occur, like memory loss and attention issues.

In addition, sleep apnea can negatively affect brain function as it results in poor sleep and we all know how getting quality sleep is important for repair, restoration, and proper function of tissue, including brain tissue. That said, poor sleep quality means impaired brain function.

Various studies have tried to identify the connection between sleep apnea and memory loss and have found some valuable findings including:

  • Sleep apnea patients are at a 50% higher risk of memory loss.
  • People with sleep apnea experience both immediate and delayed memory issues.
  • Sleep apnea can contribute to faster cognitive decline
  • Sleep apnea increases the risk of neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s

Sleep Apnea-Related Memory Loss Symptoms

In general, people mistakenly consider the early symptoms of memory loss as a normal part of aging. Plus, these signs normally develop slowly and can go unnoticed for quite a long time. Here’s what you need to watch out for:

  • Forgetfulness
  • Short-term memory issues
  • Reduced concentration
  • Increased confusion
  • Personality changes
  • Behavior changes
  • Social life withdrawal
  • Depression and/or apathy
  • Inability to do daily tasks

Lowering the Risk of Sleep Apnea-Related Memory Loss

So, how to lower the risk of memory loss caused by sleep apnea? Indeed, several lifestyle changes can help you reduce the risk of sleep apnea and related memory issues, including:

  • Keep a healthy body weight – following a healthy diet is important as obesity is one of the risk factors for sleep apnea.
  • Be physically active – regular exercise, even half an hour several days a week, can also help you decrease the risk of sleep apnea and related memory issues.
  • Stay away from alcohol or sedative medications – drinking alcohol and taking sedatives can contribute to throat muscle relaxation and worsen sleep apnea symptoms.
  • Stop smoking cigarettes if you smoke.

How COPD-Related Sleep Disturbances Differ from Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are two different conditions that affect breathing. OSA is a common sleep condition characterized by repeated breathing interruptions during sleep due to collapsed airways, whereas COPD is a group of lung conditions characterized by breathing difficulties due to blocked airflow in the lungs.

In addition, both OSA and COPD result in sleep disturbances as the person isn’t able to breathe properly. And, although they are different, they can occur together which is known as overlap syndrome (OS). When this happens, they worsen each other’s symptoms and the person has an increased risk of high blood pressure and heart failure.

The Connection Between OSA and COPD

As already noted, both conditions affect breathing and the airways. According to research, inflammation contributes to both of them and they both cause breathing difficulties during sleep. What’s more, COPD negatively affects the way the body responds to reduced oxygen levels during sleep which contributes to worsened OSA episodes.

Also, statistics show that obstructive sleep apnea is quite common in people with moderate to severe COPD, i.e. they have overlap syndrome. So, how can we differentiate between COPD-related sleep disturbances and sleep apnea? Let’s find out the differences and similarities!

The Differences between OSA and COPD

Both OSA and COPD affect breathing and reduce oxygen levels even though they are two separate conditions.

To begin with, COPD includes many lung conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Emphysema is characterized by damaged air sacs in the lungs that cannot function efficiently. Chronic bronchitis is characterized by inflamed bronchial tubes and mucus buildup. And, when they occur together, they narrow the airways and make breathing difficult even during the day.

On the other hand, OSA affects breathing only during sleep. In people with this sleep disorder, the muscles in the back of the throat relax which results in narrowed or completely closed airways, making breathing difficult. Hence, the brain alerts the person to wake up so they can breathe in again.

The Similarities between OSA and COPD

Once again, both obstructive sleep apnea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affect a person’s ability to breathe normally and reduce oxygen levels in the blood.

OSA results in breathing interruptions during sleep which results in frequent awakenings, whereas COPD makes breathing difficult during sleep which makes falling or staying asleep difficult.

Furthermore, both conditions share some symptoms. For example, OSA and COPD can cause breathing issues during sleep, frequent night time awakenings, and extreme daytime fatigue and sleepiness.

Plus, they also have some risk factors in common such as smoking. Namely, about 85-90% of COPD patients develop the condition due to smoking. And, although smoking isn’t a direct risk factor for OSA, studies found that the sleep disorder is more common among those who smoke compared to those who used to smoke in the past or have never smoked.

Finally, studies show that both obstructive sleep apnea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are more common in older people, i.e. the prevalence increases with age. And, both conditions are characterized by a slow symptom onset.

Final Thoughts

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are two distinctive conditions that affect breathing and result in sleep disturbances. They can coexist which is known as overlap syndrome (OS), but they don’t necessarily cause each other.

The Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Cardiovascular Health

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder affecting 18 million Americans. It is characterized by repeated breathing interruptions during sleep mainly caused by narrowed or blocked airways that restrict airflow to the lungs, resulting in loud snoring or gasping for air.

These breathing interruptions can occur several times per night or, in severe cases, every one to two minutes. As a result, a person with sleep apnea will feel tired and sleepy during the day, experience morning headaches and dry mouth, have concentration and memory issues, etc.

However, the most serious consequence of sleep apnea is reduced oxygen levels which causes remarkable stress on the entire body as enough oxygen cannot get to other organs and tissues. This can also lead to numerous health complications such as irregular heartbeat, heart failure, coronary heart disease, and stroke.

In short, this common sleep disorder has a strong connection with heart health. So, let’s have a closer look at the impact obstructive sleep apnea has on cardiovascular health.

What’s the Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease?

Did you know that the number one leading cause of death in the US, as well as in the entire world, is heart disease? Numerous lifestyle choices contribute to heart disease including not being physically active, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and an unhealthy diet. Similarly, some health conditions can also contribute to heart disease including high cholesterol levels, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and sleep apnea.

Precisely speaking, untreated sleep apnea can remarkably increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart arrhythmias. Estimates show that sleep apnea patients have a 2 to 4 times higher risk of developing abnormal heart rhythms compared to people without sleep apnea. Plus, the risk of heart failure is 140% higher and the risk of coronary heart disease is 130% higher in people suffering from sleep apnea.

How Sleep Apnea Affects Cardiovascular Health?

Repeated breathing pauses can potentially damage the heart. But, that’s not all! They can also harm the entire cardiovascular system. And, although researchers are still learning about new ways in which sleep apnea impacts the cardiovascular system, some biological pathways have already been identified.

  • Obesity

According to research, being overweight and obese plays a huge role in developing both heart disease and sleep apnea. Sleep apnea on its own contributes to heart disease. Plus, both sleep apnea and obesity independently contribute to health conditions that harm heart health, like hypertension, high cholesterol levels, and diabetes.

  • Sympathetic Nervous System

Every time there’s a pause in breathing, blood oxygen levels reduce, and the body becomes deprived of oxygen. As there isn’t enough oxygen, chemoreceptors activate the sympathetic nervous system to respond like in a stressful or dangerous situation, resulting in gasping for air, as well as constricting blood vessels, increasing heart rate and blood pressure.

  • Intrathoracic Pressure

Obstructive sleep apnea patients inhale against a narrowed or closed upper airway when trying to breathe which pretty much is an unsuccessful, forced inhalation which then causes changes in pressure within the chest. Eventually, these changes in pressure in the chest cavity can damage the heart and lead to atrial fibrillation, blood flow issues, and even heart failure.

  • Oxidative Stress

When a person with sleep apnea stops breathing the oxygen levels drop significantly. Then, after each pause, when they inhale successfully the oxygen levels increase again and oxygen can get into the lungs, blood, and tissues. However, these frequent fluctuations in oxygen levels can cause oxidative stress which promotes systemic inflammation, and neurochemical and physiological reactions that contribute to heart disease.

Now that you know the serious health consequences of untreated sleep apnea, make sure you visit your doctor if you suspect you may have this sleep disorder.

Managing Insomnia with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

In general, people believe that sleep problems like insomnia can only be solved by taking sleeping pills. However, turning to a sleep therapist can also be an effective insomnia treatment. One specific therapy that’s proven to be successful in fighting against insomnia symptoms is cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). Want to learn more? Continue reading below.

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia?

Put briefly, cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of the most common therapies for treating sleep disorders and problems that focuses on identifying thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that contribute to experiencing insomnia symptoms. Your sleep therapist will then restructure these thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a way that will help you get quality sleep.

In other words, CBT-I can help you change the way you think of sleep and your sleep issues, as well as change your behavior before bedtime which keeps you from getting a good night’s sleep. Additionally, this therapy will help you adopt relaxation skills and healthy lifestyle habits that will contribute to better sleeping patterns.

How does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Work?

The typical components of CBT-I sessions include:

  • Cognitive Interventions

Cognitive reframing or restructuring of misconceptions or harmful thoughts about sleep is the first step toward combating insomnia. People with insomnia tend to have inaccurate and dysfunctional thoughts about sleep which further worsen sleep, which then contributes to greater dysfunctional thoughts, creating a vicious circle. So, cognitive restructuring tries to break this cycle by altering the thoughts that result in insomnia symptoms.

  • Behavioral Interventions

Behavioral interventions are attempts to create healthy sleep habits through stimulus control before bedtime, sleep restriction and compression, and relaxation techniques.

Sleeping of stimulus control, many insomnia patients associate their bedroom with numerous behaviors that make sleeping challenging such as watching TV, eating, scrolling on their phones, etc. Thus, stimulus control focuses on eliminating those stimuli by reclaiming the bedroom as a place for sleeping and sex only.

Furthermore, your sleep therapist and CBT-I provider will focus on reducing the time you lie in bed awake through sleep restriction, i.e. limiting time spent in bed to the amount of sleep you get on a typical night so that the drive to sleep increases. Similarly, a more gentle technique might be used called sleep compression where the time spent in bed is gradually reduced, instead of immediately.

The last component of behavioral interventions is relaxation training. Your CBT-I provider will teach you some relaxation techniques that will help you calm down your racing thoughts and anxiety which commonly occur when lying in bed unable to fall asleep. Some examples of such techniques include breathing exercises, autogenic training, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), biofeedback, meditation, and hypnosis.

  • Psychoeducational Interventions

Finally, understanding the link between feelings, thoughts, behaviors, and sleep is of utmost importance for alleviating insomnia symptoms and finally getting restful sleep. Your sleep therapist will educate you about good sleep hygiene and the importance of following such sleep-healthy practices. Therefore, your CBT-I provider will teach you how diet, exercise, and sleep environment impact sleep and what lifestyle changes you need to make to support sleep.

 

Final Thought

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that makes falling and/or staying asleep difficult. Luckily, with cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) you can effectively combat this disorder and improve sleep. All you need to do is find a reliable and professional CBT-I therapist.

Long-Term Effects of Untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that affects about 3% of normal-weight individuals and over 20% of those who are obese. The main symptoms of sleep apnea include snoring, gasping for breath while asleep, insomnia, poor sleep quality, waking up unrested, morning headaches and dry mouth, daytime sleepiness, concentration issues, and mood issues.

However, did you know that if left untreated, sleep apnea can have many serious effects on your health apart from making you sleepy? Indeed, uncontrolled sleep apnea can increase the risk of cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, and other long-term health problems.

What is Sleep Apnea?

In short, sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by repeated breathing interruptions during sleep. Based on the cause, there are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea (more common) and central sleep apnea (less common).

 Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by blocked airflow through the upper airways during sleep, while central sleep apnea (CSA) is a result of the brain not being able to send the right signals to the muscles responsible for breathing.

When breathing stops during sleep, the flow of oxygen to the brain and other organs is restricted, so the body releases stress hormones as a result. And, the combination of low oxygen levels reaching the brain and increased stress hormone levels negatively affects your overall health.

Health Risks of Untreated Sleep Apnea

If left untreated, sleep apnea can negatively affect the following major systems:

  • Respiratory system – As sleep apnea decreases the levels of oxygen in the body during sleep, it can aggravate asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms. Shortness of breath and poor physical ability are also potential side effects.
  • Endocrine system – Sleep apnea patients are also at a higher risk of developing insulin resistance, i.e. their cells fail to respond well to the insulin hormone. When this occurs, sugar levels in the blood increase which can lead to type 2 diabetes.

The sleep disorder is also closely connected with metabolic syndrome which includes several heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, high LDL cholesterol levels, as well as inordinate waist circumference.

  • Digestive system – Fatty liver disease, abnormally high liver enzyme levels, and liver scarring are also possible side effects of untreated sleep apnea. It can also make heartburn and other gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms worse.
  • Cardiovascular and circulatory system – Obesity and high blood pressure also go together with sleep apnea which further increases the strain on the heart. Atrial fibrillation, which is an abnormal heart rhythm, can also develop which further increases the risk of stroke.
  • Nervous system – As already noted, central sleep apnea is caused by brain dysfunction, i.e. the brain fails to signal the muscles responsible for breathing to breathe. So, this type of sleep apnea can lead to tingling and numbness both of which are neurological symptoms.
  • Reproductive system – Untreated sleep apnea can also cause decreased sexual desire, i.e. low libido. What’s more, in men it can even lead to erectile dysfunction and sterility.

Final Thoughts

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that mainly affects both your sleep and life quality as it results in frequent night time awakenings due to breathing interruptions. But, it can do more than disrupt your nightly slumber if you leave it untreated. Indeed, it can affect your entire body and overall health by increasing the risk of many serious health conditions.

Therefore, if you suspect you might suffer from sleep apnea, get checked as soon as possible so that you can get the right treatment on time.