Sleep Apnea Linked to Depression

An association exists between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and depression, reveals study.

"Snorting, gasping or stopping breathing while asleep (signs of OSA) was associated with nearly all depression symptoms, including feeling hopeless and feeling like a failure," said Anne G. Wheaton, from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who led the study.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea - Overview
Obstructive sleep apnea should be suspected in overweight middle aged adults who snore loudly and which can cause interruption of breathing for 10 seconds or more and this results in reduced blood o

"We expected persons with sleep-disordered breathing to report trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, or feeling tired and having little energy, but not the other symptoms," added Wheaton, the journal SLEEP reports.

The study, based on a survey of 9,714 American adults is the first representative sampling to explore this relationship. Previous studies have focused on smaller samples of specific populations, such as people suffering from OSA, depression or other health conditions, according to a CDC statement.

Wheaton, an epidemiologist with CDC, said the likelihood of depression increased with the reported frequency of snorting and / or instances when breathing stopped in the study.

Quiz on Depression
The World Health Organization reports that depression is one of the main causes of disability affecting about 121 million people worldwide. More tragically, it claims around 850,000 lives every year. Hence, it is important that we understand this affliction to help ourselves or our loved ones to cope and, hopefully, resolve it. How well do you know the facts about depression? Take this quiz and find out.

She suggested screening for these disorders in the presence of the other could help address the high prevalence and underdiagnosis of sleep apnea and depression, especially if sleepiness is a chief complaint.

Source-IANS

Epworth Sleepiness Scale
Measure your daytime sleepiness using this simple interactive tool, based on Epworth Sleepiness disorder Scale. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness is a type of hypersomnia characterized by persistent sleepiness and lack of energy.

How to Handle Depression
Few tips that could help you to manage depression. It is ok to be moody once in a while but if you feel moody for a longer period of time then it could be depression.