Anxiety with Sleep Apnea May be Helped with CPAP Machines

Anxiety disorders and sleep apnea are often comorbidities. What does this mean?  That someone with an anxiety disorder usually also has sleep apnea.

Someone with sleep apnea suffers from lack of sleep, because the sudden shutting off of their breath often wakes them up. This can happen dozens or even hundreds of times per night. Lack of sleep can cause a person to be more anxious, according to a 2012 study done at the University of California, Berkely. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or CPAP machines can help with both sleep and anxiety by helping a person get the oxygen they need for healthy sleep.

Anyone else who lives in the immediate area may also benefit from the device. The choking, snorting and snoring sounds of a person with sleep apnea can be loud enough to wake up everyone in a house, dormitory or an entire floor of a building.

How It Works

When people sleep, their muscles relax, including the muscles of the jaw. When the jaw falls open, this narrows the sleeper's airways. In many people, this narrowing of the airways only causes snoring, but with sleep apnea, it's much worse. CPAP machines create a continual stream of air into a sleeper's mouth. This helps keeps the airway open. This also helps premature babies with lung problems to breathe until they are strong enough to leave the hospital.

But how does this help anxiety? Severe versions of this disorder may intensify sleep apnea. People who suffer from panic attacks can suffer panic attacks while trying to fall asleep or during sleep. People who suffer from extreme nightmares will delay going to bed for as long as possible. Their bodies do not get the rest that they need. Drowsiness can lead to feelings of confusion, irritability, breathlessness, racing heart, chest tightness and panic. All of these sensations combined may trigger a panic attack.

Special Notes

A sleeper needs to wear an oxygen mask in order to receive the air flow. The air flow is always the same intensity. However, a doctor can usually help adjust the air flow for each patient's needs. The mask is attached to a tube attached to the CPAP machine or a specialized pillow. It can take a few nights to get used to wearing the mask, but most people quickly adjust to their new sleep procedure.

Getting better sleep will not instantly cure anyone of either anxiety or sleep apnea. But it can be used in conjunction with other therapies, medications and cognitive behavior therapy. Keeping a journal can help patients learn what foods, drinks or activities keep them wired instead of being relaxed enough to sleep.

Additional References

• Insomnia and Anxiety. Colleen E. Carney & Jack D. Edinger. Springer; 2010.
• Anxiety and Depression Association of America. "Sleep Disorders."