You wake up in a panic, feeling sweaty and out of breath. Something doesn’t feel right. Were you having a bad dream? The next day, you feel groggy and unfocused, blaming it of course on the nightmare you had. However, your restlessness at night may be due to sleep apnea – one of the most common sleep conditions that affects millions of Americans each year. So how do you know if you have sleep apnea? And can this condition cause nightmares? Read on to get the answers!
What Exactly Is Sleep Apnea?
There are different types of sleep apnea, but the most common is called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This occurs when the throat and/or tongue muscles relax to the point that they cause a full or partial block in the airway. The result is interrupted breathing that can happen sometimes hundreds of times throughout the night. Of course, these interruptions lead to frequent awakenings and restlessness.
How Do You Know if You Have It?
The worst part about sleep apnea is that it’s difficult to recognize on your own. That’s why it’s estimated that over 80% of cases go untreated. However, you and your sleep partner can be on the look out for these common warning signs:
- Loud snoring
- Waking up gasping for breath
- Daytime drowsiness
- Morning headaches
- Moodiness
- Excessive fatigue
- Sexual dysfunction
If you notice any of these signs, contact a sleep expert right away. The only way to know whether you have sleep apnea with certainty is to complete a sleep test. From there, you’ll get a professional diagnosis.
Does Sleep Apnea Cause Nightmares?
Studies show that those with sleep apnea may be prone to having more vivid, unpleasant dreams. One of the reasons could be because sufferers of OSA have difficulty breathing. This suffocation is sometimes incorporated into the dream itself, increasing your heartrate in the process while causing an overall panic. While some research shows that those with sleep apnea dream less (because they aren’t able to complete the sleep cycle consistently), the dreams they do have could be more violent.
Unfortunately, some studies show that the negative dreams that sleep apnea causes can even impact your day-to-day life. Research cites that average daytime anxiety and depression were correlated to the average unpleasantness of dreams.
Don’t let your sleep apnea get in the way of your life, or your good dreams. You can enjoy better sleep, but the first step is recognizing the problem. Contact a sleep expert to get a diagnosis so you can get back to counting sheep with a restful mind.
Meet the Dentist
Dr. Dean Hutto is an experienced dentist with a deep understanding of the mouth and airway, making him the perfect resource for sleep apnea treatment. He creates custom-made oral appliances to help patients breathe and sleep better. To schedule a consultation, he can be reached through his website or by phone at (281) 688-2104.