Posted by LostBoyinNCReturns on March 17, 2012, at 10:26:07
There are reports coming out of the scientific community and the sleep medicine research world claiming that untreated sleep apnea causes brain damage. Specifically, it is the hypoxia, also known as oxygen desaturations or "desats" that destroy brain cells.
While these reports are not yet claiming any relationship between sleep apnea induced brain damage and mood disorders or psychosis, I have privately wondered about this. Could untreated sleep apnea (even mild apnea, over years) destroy brain tissue via hypoxia that could eventually make a person more susceptible to a major depressive episode? Or to a psychotic break? Or just make you less resistant to stress?
Also, since hypoxia is associated with panic (fight or flight syndrome), I have wondered if sleep apnea sets a person up for anxiety problems.
Just some ideas.
Eric
poster:LostBoyinNCReturns
thread:1013301
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120316/msgs/1013301.html