Sleeping for Sanity
At Cooley Smiles Cosmetic & Family Dentistry in Bellevue, WA, we take pride in staying on the cutting age of treatments, including those for sleep apnea. Recent studies have shown that many Americans
are finding it harder and harder to get a decent amount of sleep. Why? Studies
have pointed to physical issues, (obstructive
sleep apnea), and mental health issues, (stress and depression).
It's been proven that losing weight can
greatly improve symptoms of sleep apnea. But what about treating mental health
issues? In a question similar to the "chicken versus the egg"
conundrum, could sleep problems traditionally thought to be symptoms of mental
disorders actually be the cause of the mental disorders? Could treating sleep
disorders help heal mental health problems?
Sleep Basics
It’s
obvious that our bodies and minds want and need sleep, but what exactly is
happening when we start snoozing? According to the Harvard Medical School,
there are two main categories of sleep, each with its own important functions.
During rapid eye
movement, or REM sleep, heart rate and breathing return to levels comparable to
those seen when awake. At the same time, our bodies become paralyzed, ensuring
that we don’t act out our dreams. This period of dreaming has been shown to
contribute to emotional well-being, memory and learning ability, though the
manner of connection is not yet entirely understood.When in “quiet,” or non-REM
sleep cycles, heart rate and body temperature decrease and breathing slows and
becomes regular. In this stage the immune system is bolstered and strengthened.
Sleeping builds
our immune system and can even contribute to maintaining a healthy weight.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, “If sleep is cut short, the body
doesn’t have time to complete all of the phases needed for muscle repair,
memory consolidation and release of hormones regulating growth and
appetite.”Furthermore, it seems that the disruption of sleep affects stress
hormones and neurotransmitters, interrupting one’s ability to think, process
information, and regulate their emotions. It is because of this mechanism of
sleep that, according to Harvard Medical School, “insomnia may amplify the
effects of psychiatric disorders, and vice versa.”Harvard Medical School
reports that while 10-18% of American adults overall are affected by chronic sleep
issues, anywhere from 50-80% of patients in an average psychiatric practice are
plagued with these problems.
The Sleep-Mental Health
Connection
It
has traditionally been the assumption that insomnia and other sleep problems
were simply symptoms of the psychiatric issues that these patients with sleep
issues were already being treated for.
“The
medical profession is becoming more aware of the correlation between sleep and
emotional disorders,” said William Kohler, M.D., Medical Director of the
Florida Sleep Institute, in an interview with dailyRx. Some research has
now shown that sleep issues might increase the likelihood of mental health
problems. Harvard Medical school reports that it might even be the case that
sleep problems “might even directly contribute to the development of some
psychiatric disorders.”
For more information on how sleep apnea can affect your health, and to learn whether an oral appliance may help you manage your sleep apnea, visit our website.
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