Sleep apnea is described as the most common sleeping disorder that may cause an interruption of the night sleep. This disorder has been expected to be with more than millions people in the whole world and their sleeping time is a sort of nightmare for them. People with this horrible disease can have real life nightmares which not only alter one’s sleep pattern but also has an impact on their overall health.
As much as it would be a total privilege to you to read this article fully, this article has all you have ever wanted to know about sleep apnea nightmares, from the causes to the impact or effect it has on your sleep and mental health not forgetting the few tips we are going to give you on how you can best deal with the nightmares associated with night Apnea.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is actually a very severe sleeping disorder concerning the pause and abnormal breathing repeatedly during sleep. The apneas can range from a few seconds to more than one minute; this may result in low oxygen levels delivered to the brain and may also wake one up frequently during the night.
Obstructive sleep apnea is characterised by inadequate contraction of muscles in the throat, and central sleep apnea, where the brain is incapable of signalling the appropriate flaps to control breathing.
Does Sleep Apnea Cause Nightmares?
While nightmares are the products of many influences, from stress to anxiety, an increasing body of research appears to point out even sleep apnea as a facilitator in these extremely intensive and distressing dreams. Sleep apnea, with all its awakenings, disrupts the natural pattern of sleep most especially the stage known as REM, for rapid eye movement, where most dreams take place. These can heighten the intensity of dream life and yield more nightmares.
What is REM?
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is also known by various other names including; dream sleep, rhombencephalic sleep, active sleep, desynchronized sleep, and paradoxical sleep. It is a myth that most people hold that dreams only occur in REM sleep, but there are essential functions of REM sleep in the brain development and handling of emotions.
Your heart rate spikes; your breathing becomes erratic, and rapid eye movement occurs behind the closed eyelids when you are in deep sleep. The brain waves fluctuate with much activity in the brain. This is during the REM phase of your sleep, unlike other forms of sleeping where the brain waves quiet down.
Causes of Sleep Apnea Nightmares
These nightmares could well be related to the struggle of the body for life when sleeping. Due to complete obstruction of the airway during sleep, the brain sends an alert to the body to wake up and start breathing. This sudden arousal from sleep particularly from the REM stage causes these dreams to be very vivid and often disturbing in nature. Some individuals even describe feelings such as suffocation, drowning, and entrapment because of actual physical feelings of not being able to breathe. Poor quality sleep from sleep apnea will also heighten feelings of anxiety and stress, further worsening nightmares.
General Quality of Sleep
Sleep apnea is not confined to just nightmare events but extends further to include the deterioration of the overall quality of sleep. The frequent awakenings prevent a person from sinking into deep, restorative sleep. People with this problem are sleepy during the day, have reduced brain functioning, memory impairment and are prone to accidents. Prolonged sleep loss may also lead to critical diseases such as heart diseases, diabetes and depression.
Managing Sleep Apnea Nightmares
- Maintain a normal weight: Severe obesity is a precursor to obstructive sleep apnea. Weight loss, when it occurs, may reduce the severity of sleep apnea symptoms and often improve sleep overall.
- Sleep on your side: if you have a habit of sleeping at your back be aware as this sleeping position keeps you at higher risk of having sleep apnea. Therefore to avoid night terrors, you must sleep on your side. Scientifically speaking sleeping on your side, can be helpful in minimize obstruction of the airway and reduce nightmare frequency.
- Sleep in a friendly environment: By decreasing stress and making the sleeping atmosphere quiet and soothing, the nightmares may become less frequent. Muscle relaxation procedures such as meditation or deep breathing can also be helpful.
- Limit alcohol and sedatives: Alcohol and sedative medications can relax throat muscles, increasing the risk of your airway collapsing during sleep.
Can CPAP be used in Kids?
Children who require treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) following surgery or for whom surgery is not a viable option may benefit from this approach. Utilizing a mask that goes over the nose and occasionally over the mouth, a CPAP machine provides the patient with compressed air.
Under certain circumstances, such as when surgery is not necessary or is not beneficial, CPAP can assist treat your child’s. Before surgery, children diagnosed with OSA may also be prescribed CPAP.
Benefits of CPAP Machine
- Fewer disruptions with sleep
- Enhanced sleep quality
- Decreased or reduced snoring
- Reduced daytime drowsiness
- Reduced headaches caused by OSA
When to ask for medical help
You should seek medical help if you feel that you are at risk of having sleep apnea or scary nightmares that can disturb your sleep. Once you get medical help your sleep specialist will study your sleep patterns fand will identify sleep apnea. After the diagnosis he will start your treatment as if you leave sleep apnea untreated you will likely have a low-quality sleep for the rest of your life.
FAQs
Can I see vivid dreams if I suffer from sleep Apnea?
If you have you will experience frequent waking during the REM stage of your sleep which will cause you to see vivid, scary and more intense dreams than you normally would.
Who are at higher risk of Sleep Apnea among men and women?
As per studies men are at higher risk of having sleep Apnea, but it does not mean a woman can not experience it. However, the ratio of sleep apnea in men is higher than in women. However, it is more common in women post their menopause.
Can losing weight help with sleep apnea?
Yes, you can lose weight to get rid of your sleep Apnea but to some extent.