Sleep apnea and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are two different conditions, but some studies suggest that these two conditions could be linked. Having PTSD could increase a person’s risk of developing sleep apnea. Learn more about these two health conditions below and how they might be connected.

Sleep Apnea and PTSD

 

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes a person’s breath to repeatedly stop and start during sleep. With sleep apnea, a person’s throat collapses and cuts off the airway. When this happens, the person is woken from sleep so that they can catch their breath. However, sleep apnea results in poor sleep, and it can lead to other potentially serious medical conditions. PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after a person goes through a terrifying experience like war. These two health conditions are clearly very different, but are they related? There is recent evidence that suggests PTSD is linked to sleep apnea. While researchers have yet to prove the exact link between the two, the disrupted sleep that soldiers can experience during combat may have something to do with the connection between PTSD and sleep apnea. Another factor that may link the two conditions is the physical and psychological stress that occurs when someone is suffering from PTSD. Both PTSD and sleep apnea are serious conditions, and it is vital to get treatment if you think you are suffering from either one of them. Also, if you are a soldier with PTSD, you will want to be aware of your sleep. If you are experiencing trouble staying asleep and excessive daytime sleepiness, you may want to get tested to see if you are suffering from sleep apnea. The good news is that treatment is available for both sleep apnea and PTSD. You can find a treatment that will help you get relief from your symptoms and live a happy and healthy life. Be sure to consult your doctor to discuss your options.

Is Sleep Apnea Related to Other Health Concerns?

PTSD may not be the only health condition linked to sleep apnea. In fact, sleep apnea may be connected to other health problems as well. If you have sleep apnea, you want to be aware of these other health concerns which include diabetes and heart disease. Learn more about this below. Sleep apnea and diabetes can be related. The exact connection between these two health problems is not known, but it seems that those with sleep apnea have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Also, those with type 2 diabetes have a greater risk of developing sleep apnea. Studies show that people with sleep apnea can develop a type of insulin resistance. This insulin resistance then leads to developing type 2 diabetes. Sleep apnea and heart disease can also be related. While they are two different conditions, having sleep apnea could increase your risk of developing heart problems and high blood pressure as a result of a lack of oxygen to their lungs or their blood. As you can see, sleep apnea can be related to various health issues. That is why it is essential to get treatment for sleep apnea if you believe you have it. The most common way sleep apnea is treated is through CPAP therapy. CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure is when a machine is used to regulate breathing and stop the airway from collapsing in on itself during sleep. It is common to use a CPAP machine to treat sleep apnea. Also, to be sure your CPAP machine is working properly, you may want to get a CPAP cleaning device. Learn more about CPAP cleaning devices here. These CPAP cleaners can help ensure your CPAP machine stays pristine and doesn’t cause other health issues. Since a CPAP machine is used every single night to treat sleep apnea, it can easily collect germs and bacteria. If you don’t clean your CPAP machine, you could be breathing in that bacteria, and it could be causing you to get sick. To avoid this, you can use a CPAP cleaning device. Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition which can be linked to other health conditions. If you or someone you know thinks they have sleep apnea, you should consult a doctor to get started with treatment. They can help you get set up with a CPAP machine that will give you relief from your symptoms.