Sleep Apnea Leads to Depression: Really

At long last, we have a good study that shows a strong link between obstructive sleep apnea – suffering with periods of lapsed breathing during sleep – and depression in human beings.

As the Los Angeles Times reports, a randomized study of patients who had never before been diagnosed for sleep apnea, found that the men who showed signs of this disorder were far more likely to suffer from depression as well:

None of the men had been diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea when they entered the study, but 857 of them were assessed for the condition after joining. Those who were found to have it were 2.1 times more likely to be depressed than those who didn’t have the sleep disorder.

It’s yet another good reason to intervene if you suspect that you may have sleep apnea. If you wake at night gasping for breath, or with your heart racing inexplicably, sleep apnea is almost certainly the culprit.

The medical market offers everything from sprays to OTC medications, machines and other implantable devices. And if the problem is anatomical, you may be a candidate for turbinate reduction or septoplasty from a sinus surgeon.

Feel free to reach out to my Los Angeles sinus practice today to learn more.