{"id":340,"date":"2025-08-15T17:10:23","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T17:10:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sleepsolutionstopeka.com\/blog\/?p=340"},"modified":"2025-09-15T17:13:28","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T17:13:28","slug":"sleep-apnea-and-depression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sleepsolutionstopeka.com\/blog\/2025\/08\/15\/sleep-apnea-and-depression\/","title":{"rendered":"How Untreated Sleep Apnea Can Be Linked to Depression"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"220\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sleepsolutionstopeka.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AdobeStock_548165466-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Woman sitting on bed looking depressed\" class=\"wp-image-341\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>When left untreated, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepsolutionstopeka.com\/what-is-sleep-apnea.html\">sleep apnea<\/a> can take a toll on your quality of life in a variety of ways. Not only can it leave you feeling exhausted and make it hard to focus during the day, but it could even affect your emotional well-being. In fact, research indicates that sleep apnea is often linked to symptoms of depression. Here\u2019s a closer look at the nature of this connection as well as the steps you can take to get the rest you deserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Happens When You Have Sleep Apnea?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Having sleep apnea means that your breathing is repeatedly stopping and restarting while you\u2019re asleep. These pauses are typically caused by the airway being physically obstructed, and in severe cases, they can occur hundreds of times in a single night. Whenever your breathing stops, your brain is forced to wake your body up to get some air. These constant interruptions of your sleep cycle can make it very difficult to enjoy quality slumber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How are Sleep Apnea and Depression Related?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1080\/15402002.2018.1545649\">study<\/a> performed in 2018 indicated that 35% of people with obstructive sleep apnea (the most common form of sleep apnea) also experienced symptoms of depression. Furthermore, the two conditions can sometimes be mistaken for each other due to sharing a number of warning signs, including fatigue, memory problems, and losing interest in hobbies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On top of that, not only do sleep apnea and depression often occur together, but they also have a bidirectional relationship. This means that one can easily make the other worse. At the same time, having sleep apnea treated can go a long way toward reducing depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Can You Do About Sleep Apnea and Depression?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To protect yourself from the impact that sleep apnea can have on your physical and mental well-being, you should have an expert diagnose and address it as quickly as possible. The traditional way to treat sleep apnea is with a CPAP machine. However, if you\u2019re CPAP intolerant, your sleep dentist may suggest an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepsolutionstopeka.com\/oral-appliance-therapy.html\">oral appliance<\/a> instead. This device can slightly reposition the jaw in order to keep the airway unobstructed throughout the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It should be noted that while addressing sleep apnea can help with depression, treating the former doesn\u2019t guarantee that the latter will go away. As such, it\u2019s a good idea to speak to a professional to see what they recommend for improving your mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether they occur together or not, sleep apnea and depression are two problems you can\u2019t afford to ignore; if you have reason to suspect that you\u2019re suffering from one or both of these issues, it\u2019s best to get the care you need as quickly as possible so that you can improve your quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Michael E. Michel opened his first dental office in Topeka in 1981. He has spent decades pursuing advanced training and continuing education in dental sleep medicine. As a result, he has years of knowledge and experience when it comes to treating sleep apnea. He can provide his patients with fully personalized oral appliances to help them overcome their sleep disordered breathing. If you\u2019re looking for a solution for sleep apnea, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Michel at Sleep Solutions by Michel Dental by visiting his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepsolutionstopeka.com\/contact.html\">website<\/a> or calling (785) 273-0801.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When left untreated, sleep apnea can take a toll on your quality of life in a variety of ways. Not only can it leave you feeling exhausted and make it hard to focus during the day, but it could even affect your emotional well-being. In fact, research indicates that sleep apnea is often linked to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Sleep Apnea and Depression Topeka | Sleep Solutions by Michel Dental<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Sleep apnea and symptoms of depression often go hand in hand. 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