Sleep Apnea and Migraines: An Uncommonly Known Link 

Sleep Apnea affects patients many ways, but is most noticeably in their inability to get a solid night’s sleep. Patient’s whom suffer from the condition often have to seek the help of a medical specialist in order to help keep their airways clear of obstructions while sleeping. However, more research being done to understand the lasting impact sleep apnea can have on patients.

Some such research is between sleep apnea and migraines. This is due to stress. Patients with sleep apnea are unable to stay asleep for long periods of time without waking up due to their inability to breathe. This restlessness causes patients to have different stress factors go off in the brain. Additionally, insomnia, or waking continually throughout the night, cause irritability and ultimately more stress, which is a common trigger for migraines.

Is this a serious health issue? It absolutely is. Aside from the more apparent and unpleasant symptoms that are usually experienced by patients, there are several medical conditions that can develop when left untreated:

  • Hypertension
  • Depression
  • Risk of stroke increases

In fact, according to the Migraine Relief Center, both migraines and sleep apnea share some vascular characteristics and both have the potential to cause brain damage due to diminished circulation within the brain itself.

As you can imagine, sleep apnea poses a serious health risk over time while immediately affecting the quality of life of those suffering from it. You should contact the Dentist 615-928-2840 immediantly if you or your loved one is experiencing any of the following symptoms:

  • Loud snoring resulting in waking self or others
  • Pauses of breath while sleeping
  • Waking to shortness of breath
  • Gasping or choking upon waking
  • Excessive drowsiness resulting in patient falling asleep while working, driving, or sitting