top of page

Rest Apnea Anxiety

 

When managing sleep apnea, fear and also anxiousness always appear to be close by. Many apnea sufferers have recounted stories of waking up in fear in the middle of night or having outright Anxiety attack. Some have actually suspected that there was a scientific explanation and recent studies have emerged to back this up.

 

A study published in 2009 concluded that patients exhibiting central sleep apnea are three times more probable to have an anxiety condition compared to are those with no evidence of main apnea. It was found that 66 % of the patients had at least one central or obstructive apnea event during their polysomnographic examination. After adjusting for sleep parameters such as sleep effectiveness, percent of REM sleep, as well as apneahypopnea index; demographic covariates such as sex, BMI, age, as well as high levels of caffeine, liquor, and also tobacco consumption; and history of medical and psychiatric disorders, the scientists determined that the odds ratio for anxiety in patients with at least one CSA event was 3.0, which was statistically significant.

 

Another interesting study explored why sleep apnea can trigger anxiety and panic attacks to start with. This study by University of Iowa researchers shows that carbon dioxide increases brain acidity, which triggers a protein that is central to fear and also anxiety behavior. Researchers concentrated on a human brain protein called acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a), which is plentiful in the amygdala - the area deep in the human brain that refines worry signals and directs anxiety actions. Shutting out or removing ASIC1a is known to reduce innate anxiety and alters worry memory in mice. Scientists have known since 1918 that increased degrees of carbon dioxide can generate uncommon actions with those known to have stress and anxiety problems. The research team likewise found that making mind tissue much less acidic blunted concern behaviour generated by carbon dioxide and decreased learned fear. They take place to propose that breathing exercises could have anti-anxiety effects also.

bottom of page