Sleep apnea could make symptoms of depression in men worse, according to a new study out of Australia. This condition is caused by throat muscles relaxing during sleep, blocking the airway and resulting in intermittent breathing.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common form of sleep apnea, was found to be linked to depression in male subjects. This correlation was evident even after the effects of smoking, relationship status, age, and other factors were statistically removed from the results.
Researchers examined almost 860 men, measuring signs of depression at two separate times, roughly five years apart. They found that males who experienced undiagnosed cases of sleep apnea were nearly twice as likely as those without the condition to experience depression. Those who suffer from that condition and also sleep during the day were found to have five times the risk.
Many people who suffer from sleep apnea experience daytime drowsiness, and researchers who conducted the new study want to know if this could be related to increased depression. An earlier study on the relationship between sleep apnea and depression did not find evidence to support the idea of drowsiness resulting in depression.
"Many of the symptoms of OSA and depression overlap, such as tiredness, fatigue, daytime sleepiness, low vitality and poor concentration," Carol Lang from the University of Adelaide's Department of Medicine said.
This study could hold promise for treating the root causes of depression millions of patients. This could go well beyond ensuring a good night's sleep.
"Depression is a serious public health concern and a lot remains unknown about how to effectively treat it in men. Men are less likely to seek, and more likely to drop out of, treatment for their depression and are four times more likely to die from suicide attempts than females," Lang said.
Sleep apnea can result in periods where breathing is cut off for 10 seconds or longer, and these events can occur 100 times or more each night. One of the most common symptoms of OSA is snoring, and the condition can strike anyone. However, it is most common among overweight adults and those people who are middle-aged and over. Roughly half of men and 20 percent of women experience OSA, although 82 percent of sufferers have not been diagnosed with the condition, researchers stated.
Some people are treated surgically to alter the structure of their throat, mouth, and nose. However, most people can see relief through the use of a plastic device designed to push the jaw forward while the subject sleeps. Researchers also say some people may be helped by sleeping on their sides.
Lang presented the study's findings at the American Thoracic Society meeting recently in Denver.
Photo: Timothy Krause | Flickr
