Can STRESS cause sleep apnea?

Peter Bosson wrote:I have had sleep apnoea for a year or so. I know it's stress coz I have been under LOADS and it's now happening when I do relaxation breathing and I nod off for a few seconds/ minutes. Just work on de stressing in every way possible and I think it will go. Pete.

So stress causes sleep apnea? Is that obstructive, central or complex sleep apnea?

I do feel that stress makes my Apnea and insomnia worse

Peter Bosson wrote:I have had sleep apnoea for a year or so. I know it's stress coz I have been under LOADS and it's now happening when I do relaxation breathing and I nod off for a few seconds/ minutes. Just work on de stressing in every way possible and I think it will go. Pete.

That is helping INSOMNIA it doesn't help the fact that when you fall asleep your throat closes up and you stop breathing. Years and years of practising this stuff did not help me with that.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 162546.htm

Stress can cause inflammation. I imagine Inflammation will reduce an already narrow air way.

My opinion; Cause no. Contribute yes.

ButtermilkBuoy wrote:Majoring in liberal arts can cause sleep apnea.

Do I dare ask you to elaborate?

How is your recovery going by the way from your knee surgery?

49er

49er wrote:

ButtermilkBuoy wrote:Majoring in liberal arts can cause sleep apnea.

Do I dare ask you to elaborate?

How is your recovery going by the way from your knee surgery?

49er

It sounds like they've given him some really strong pain meds

I am just hitting the ripe age of 50 and been diagnosed for several years but sure I have had apnea long before diagnosed. I did not fit the "profile" either thus diagnosed later than should have. Now I have a new issue with my pituitary gland. Been down two roads with that as it is causing serious mess with my thyroid, adrenals and testosterone levels. One set of doctors is saying the Central Sleep Apnea is what has whacked my pituitary gland and another set is saying the misfiring pituitary is the cause of the Central Apnea. There is a contributing factor of 7 years i pain management which can whack the pituitary but zero tests done show any other issues from the pain management or hints of the pain management affecting the pituitary but it is a known cause. but as to the stress idea, I believe it can aggravate and intensify your Apnea at times but do not think it would be the root cause.

Several studies have shown that opioid use is related to complex sleep apnea - so an extended period with pain management medications could be related to the central apneas.

The thing to realize here is that the body, the brain, and thoughts and emotions form feedback loops. Physical changes in the body affect the brain, changes in the brain effect the thoughts and emotions, thoughts and emotions affect both the body and the brain. I would not be surprised if stress made your apnea worse. I haven't seen any research suggesting that stress causes sleep apnea (although stress medications - benzodiazepines in particular may include warnings about causing apnea and they do depress respiration).

The use of mindfulness techniques (such as breathing exercises) can reduce your baseline stress level. To the extent that stress makes your sleep problems worse (either insomnia or sleep apnea), then lowering your baseline stress level could reduce your symptoms.

Many very good points, people.
In my own experience, some of my worst stress was caused by my apnea.
--excepting, of course, a former boss or two.

The use of mindfulness techniques (such as breathing exercises) can reduce your baseline stress level.

Regular moderate exercise, good diet, good sleep hygiene, close friends and loving family relationships are often missing from those susceptible to stress. (This is assuming you have sleep apnea under control. If not, nothing may work.)

Regarding exercise, a mix of strength training and cardiovascular exercise is best. Breathing techniques during CV exercise is great help with stress.

ChicagoGramps

I am in my mid 30's also. I know that I have had severe sleep apnea since my mid to late teens. When I was in the military, if I wasn't on the move I was sleeping, and I was always tired. Never made any complaints of being tired, so nothing was done. Now that I'm out of the military, I've put on some weight, and of course my sleep apnea is ready to kill me. It has put my heart into AFib while sleeping multiple times.

The doctors won't do anything but tell me to lose weight, there's nothing else they can do. I don't want a band-aid (CPAP); it makes the exact opposite happen where my sleep is so good that I wake up in the middle of the night after 4 hours of sleep and I'm ready for the day to start, while everyone else is still seeping. I hate feeling this way so much; it's so depressing that I can't wait for it to kill me.

anonymous41 wrote:I am in my mid 30's also. I know that I have had severe sleep apnea since my mid to late teens. When I was in the military, if I wasn't on the move I was sleeping, and I was always tired. Never made any complaints of being tired, so nothing was done. Now that I'm out of the military, I've put on some weight, and of course my sleep apnea is ready to kill me. It has put my heart into AFib while sleeping multiple times.

The doctors won't do anything but tell me to lose weight, there's nothing else they can do. I don't want a band-aid (CPAP); it makes the exact opposite happen where my sleep is so good that I wake up in the middle of the night after 4 hours of sleep and I'm ready for the day to start, while everyone else is still seeping. I hate feeling this way so much; it's so depressing that I can't wait for it to kill me.

you might want to start a new topic if you are hoping for replies. This was an old topic from 2010.

There is no permanent cure for cpap. Surgery has very limited results that typically don't last long and have some unwanted permanent side effects. CPAP is the way to go, and it sounds like it was working very well for you. The shorter nights will go away. I had that problem at first, but it was because my brain wasn't used to 4 hours of quality sleep. We can help you adjust and make this work well for you. But I do recommend starting a new topic with a hint of what problems you are dealing with in the subject line so that people open it. They may not choose to open an old post about stress.

anonymous41 wrote: I wake up in the middle of the night after 4 hours of sleep and I'm ready for the day to start, while everyone else is still seeping.

Hold on fellow. There is a technique for dealing with that. If, as you say, you can only sleep four hours, then delay going to bed until it is four hours before you need to get up. Over time you may be able to change this to 4.5 hours before you need to get up, then 5.0, etc.


ChicagoGramps

I was curious, so I clicked, expecting more chicken vs. egg arguments.
To Anonymous41: It can be frustrating, but you never know how strong you really are
until you put your shoulder behind the boulder and lean right into it.
Hang around, and share exactly what and how your difficulties arise.
It's not all one huge problem, but usually a bunch of little ones.
if we can lick the tougher ones, some of the others simply fall off the table.
Before you know it, you will be feeling quite differently.

anonymous41 wrote:I am in my mid 30's also. I know that I have had severe sleep apnea since my mid to late teens. When I was in the military, if I wasn't on the move I was sleeping, and I was always tired. Never made any complaints of being tired, so nothing was done. Now that I'm out of the military, I've put on some weight, and of course my sleep apnea is ready to kill me. It has put my heart into AFib while sleeping multiple times.

The doctors won't do anything but tell me to lose weight, there's nothing else they can do. I don't want a band-aid (CPAP); it makes the exact opposite happen where my sleep is so good that I wake up in the middle of the night after 4 hours of sleep and I'm ready for the day to start, while everyone else is still seeping. I hate feeling this way so much; it's so depressing that I can't wait for it to kill me.

I'm confused. Are you using (or do you have) a CPAP or not?
You took the time to post in a CPAP user "help" type of forum but do you want HELP?

You sound like you NEED this therapy, but are you willing to do what it takes?


Den

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