OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) is a common sleep disorder that affects people’s health. Clinical studies have demonstrated a strong link between OSA and increased risk of mood disorders. Patients with OSA also have a higher risk of depression and other mental health problems.
- The research published in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences (JRMS) in March 2014 showed that among patients with OSA, 53.9% of individuals had anxiety, and 46.1% of individuals had depression.
- A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine in February 2015 showed that people with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder may also be prone to sleep apnea.
- A study published in September 2019 in the Journal of Psychiatric Research has shown that up to 14 percent of adults who had obstructive sleep apnea were prone to suicide and had major depressive disorder (MDD).
CPAP machines are the most effective treatment for OSA as they provide continuous positive pressure and many studies have proved that OSA treatment can also help patients improve their mood.
Patients with mild sleep apnea may not feel the benefits of CPAP therapy. But if you have severe sleep apnea with an Apnoea–Hypopnea Index (AHI) of more than 100 events per hour, you will notice a big change when you use the CPAP machine as it can help you keep an AHI of 5 events per hour. But many patients can also feel that their sleep apnea has been improved even if they have mild sleep apnea.
CPAP machines can help keep your airway open with a continuous positive pressure during the night sleep. Therefore, you will never feel uncomfortable breathing or snoring during your sleeping. CPAP machines deliver continuous positive pressure to your airways through the mask and tube, which can make you feel comfortable breathing. And you can feel the change if you use CPAP machines for over 2 weeks.
CPAP machines can effectively improve your life:
- Improving drowsiness. Daytime sleepiness is one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea. Patients with OSA have poor-quality sleep due to abnormal breathing-related awakenings even if they get enough sleep for eight hours a day.
- Using CPAP machines every day can make you energetic and refreshing the next day. You will also have a better memory, a good mood, and a quality of life. And you will be able to concentrate on your work in the daytime.
- CPAP machines can also help treat serious health problems related to sleep apnea, such as heart disease and stroke. The pauses in breathing can cause changes in your blood pressure and may lower your blood oxygen levels which can be harmful to your heart. Untreated patients with sleep apnea have a higher risk of stroke.
- CPAP machines can also help improve insulin sensitivity. Sleep apnea is related to two factors of type 2 diabetes: glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. Sleep apnea can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
- Your companion will get high-quality sleep if you no longer snore, so a CPAP machine can also benefit your family.