Blog #10: Sleep disorder multiplies depression risk

Researchers at the Centers for Disease and Prevention found that having sleep apnea, a breathing disorder that causes sleep disturbances, dramatically increases the risk of depression.  Men who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea are twice as likely as other men to show signs of depression. The results were much higher for women. Women who have sleep apnea are five times more likely to be diagnosed with clinical depression than women who do not have sleep apnea. The study also taught the researchers that sleep apnea is highly under diagnosed.  Over 80% of people who report symptoms such as snoring or gasping for breaths most nights of the week have never received an official diagnosis. The group of people who report trouble breathing but have not been diagnosed with sleep apnea were three times as likely as others to show symptoms of depression. “Sleep apnea is closely associated with obesity, a fact the researchers took into account by controlling for body mass index in their analysis.” The airway can be blocked when there is excess fat surrounding the windpipe. The study shows an association between sleep apnea and depression but does not conclude that sleep apnea is the cause of depression.The researchers are unable to determine if one causes the other. There may be an unidentified factor that contributes to sleep apnea and depression but it is unknown. 

Sleep apnea increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.  As heart disease is the number one cause of death in America I think it is considered a social problem because many times it can be prevented just by taking care of yourself. Routine exercise, eating healthy, and not smoking are a few ways to lower the risk of being overweight or obese which would reduce the chance of getting sleep apnea or cardiovascular disease. 

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/30/health/conditions/sleep-apnea-depression/index.html?hpt=he_c2