Sleep Apnea & Depression
Depression is one of many chronic conditions that commonly occur with sleep apnea. Here’s what you need to know about the link between sleep apnea and depression, and effective ways to cope if you are living with both conditions.
What’s the Link Between Sleep Apnea and Depression?
According to a 2017 study published in Sleep Medicine and Disorders, an estimated 18% of people with major depressive disorder (MDD) have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and 17.6% of people with OSA have MDD. Having one condition can increase your risk of developing the other.
Poor sleep caused by sleep apnea can often lead to imbalances in hormones and brain chemicals—including those involved in regulating your mood. Serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine are some of the many brain chemicals affected by poor quality sleep that play an important role in depression. Poor sleep can also affect many other areas of your life to make you feel depressed. For instance, it can interfere with your energy level and contribute to physical inactivity and weight gain.
Depression can lead to unhealthy behaviors such as overeating, smoking, and alcohol misuse, which are common risk factors for sleep apnea. For example, some people who suffer from depression may drink alcohol to self-medicate, reduce their symptoms, and eventually develop sleep apnea. People who overeat or eat lots of fast foods and sweets may gain excess weight and develop sleep apnea.
What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea vs Depression?
Many sleep apnea and depression symptoms overlap, which can often make it difficult to determine whether you are suffering from one or both conditions. Knowing the symptoms of both disorders can help you decide whether or not you need treatment for depression or sleep apnea—the latter of which can be effectively treated with a ResMed CPAP machine.
Symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Loud snoring
- Daytime sleepiness
- Episodes of no breathing during sleep
- Loud breathing
- Breathing through the mouth
- Dry mouth
- Sore throat upon waking
- Morning headaches
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Weight gain
- Mood swings
- Depression
Symptoms of depression include:
- Anxiety
- Sadness
- General discontent
- Guilt
- Hopelessness
- Changes in appetite
- Changes in weight
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Poor concentration
Tips for Coping With Sleep Apnea and Depression
The CDC reports that symptoms of depression in people with sleep apnea may decrease after they effectively treat sleep apnea and start experiencing greater quality sleep. Therefore, if you suffer from both conditions, the best way to find relief is to start by addressing your sleep apnea.
CPAP is the most common effective treatment for sleep apnea. Today’s CPAP masks can be designed to fit more comfortably on your face and customized based on whether you sleep on your side or back. Quiet CPAP machines are also available for those who want to be extra considerate of their sleeping partners.
ResMed provides AirFit masks with silicone cushioning, AirTouch masks with memory foam cushioning, and high-quality CPAP for side sleeping. CPAP for side sleepers is made to fit snugly and securely on your face so you can move around freely without having to worry about your mask shifting out of place.
Other steps you can take to cope with both depression and sleep apnea include:
- Exercising regularly, which can naturally improve your mood, contribute to weight loss, and improve your sleep quality.
- Eating highly nutritious foods, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains that, can naturally boost your energy, balance your hormones, and improve brain health.
- Reducing your alcohol intake, given how alcohol can contribute to weight gain, poor quality sleep, and imbalances in hormones and brain chemicals.
- Avoiding sleeping pills, as they do not address the underlying causes of sleep apnea or depression and may contribute to anxiety and depression in some individuals.
If you live with sleep apnea and/or depression, consult with your healthcare provider to discuss your available treatment options. Your doctor can also help you choose a CPAP machine and custom-fitting CPAP mask so you can benefit from better sleep and decreased sleep apnea symptoms.
How Does MonthlyCPAPClub Work?
Select the type of mask you prefer. We offer today’s leading brands at the lowest prices. Unlike other CPAP supplies you can buy online, we give you free standard tubing, free filters, and free shipping. Once you have selected your mask type, you’ll be able to select your desired brand and fit. It’s super easy!
F.A.Q.
Monthly CPAP Club is a new approach to delivering a regular and scheduled shipment of all your CPAP supplies for one low monthly cost.
We charge you a small monthly free and deliver a fresh CPAP mask, tubes, filters and cushions to your door every 3 months.
We work with the major manufacturers to provide a selection of the most popular CPAP masks, cushions, tubing, filters and other accessories.
You get one shipment with all the CPAP supplies you’ll need for the next three months and you just pay one low, monthly payment.
Monthly CPAP Club lets you know when it’s time to change your filters, clean your mask and tubing. Three months after your first order, we’ll let you know (via email) that it’s time to replace your CPAP supplies, and we will ship out a package with a replacement mask, tubing, and filters for your CPAP machine, all including in your monthly fee.
Every package allows you to choose your preferred style of CPAP mask and the brand, make and model you prefer. You have the choice of standard tubing or heated tubing. You have the option for extended tubing options with heated tubing. Every package also includes cushions for the mask and filters for your machine
We need to know which CPAP breathing machine you use so we can send you the correct filters. Filters are specific to machines.
If you don’t see your CPAP breathing machine model listed, please contact us at sales@monthlycpapclub.com. Please include the make and model of CPAP breathing machine you use.
We do support many machines. The most popular machines are listed right now and more will be added as we grow.
In the mean time, let us know which machines you use so we get you the correct filters.
Monthly CPAP Club currently offers Resmed, Respironics, and Fisher & Paykel CPAP products. We can accommodate certain other brands when requested by email. Please let us know by emailing us at sales@monthlycpapclub.com or submit a request online.
Our goal at Monthly CPAP Club is to offer all the necessary CPAP supplies for good sleep hygiene in simple, scheduled quarterly shipments.
We want the program to be even easier for the end user to afford with a monthly payment.
When you sign up for a package with Monthly CPAP Club, you will be charged the monthly package amount ranging from $30 and up, depending on your preferences.
We will ship out a package within 1 business day of your order with all the CPAP supplies you’ll need to properly treat your sleep apnea with clean and effective supplies.
The next scheduled shipment for your account will commence 3 months after your initial first shipment. We’ll send you an email your next delivery is on the way.
The best part about Monthly CPAP Club for those living with sleep apnea is that CPAP supplies are one less thing you’ll have to regularly order, schedule or pick up. We ship you the supplies you’ll need for the next three months and ship you another package in three months will all new and fresh CPAP supplies.
We do sell most of the popular and newest CPAP machines. Although we do not list many of the machines on our Monthly CPAP Club site, we can process orders for machines via email for existing subscribers and over the phone for new users.
Join The Club
Getting started is easy. Just click the button below. Choose your supplies, customize your plan and we’ll send your CPAP supplies straight to you! So take a load off and leave the rest to us!