Why Sleep Apnea Could Be to Blame for Your Bad Dreams

Have you been suffering from vivid nightmares lately? There’s a chance that sleep apnea could be the cause. Studies have shown that people with sleep-disordered breathing tend to be more susceptible to bad dreams. If you want to put a stop to your nightmares, then it’s important to understand how they can be connected to sleep apnea – and what steps you need to take to address the underlying problem.

How Can Sleep Apnea Affect Dreaming?

Having sleep apnea means that your breathing repeatedly stops and restarts throughout the night. Each pause in your breathing can force your brain to wake your body up, thus interrupting your sleep cycle. Consequently, people with sleep apnea tend to have fewer dreams in general because they don’t spend as much time in the later stages of sleep where most dreaming takes place.

If you do have a dream while suffering from sleep apnea, there’s a good chance of it turning into a nightmare. This is often a side effect of oxygen deprivation; the frequent pauses in your breathing can put a lot of stress on your body, and that stress can have an impact on your dreams. Sleep apnea nightmares often manifest as scenarios where you can’t get enough oxygen, such as being strangled or trapped underwater. The more severe your sleep apnea is, the more vivid and frightening your bad dreams are likely to be.

What Can You Do About Sleep Apnea?

If sleep apnea really is to blame for your nightmares, then having the disorder treated can go a long way toward helping you enjoy better dreams. First, you’ll need to undergo a sleep test; this involves the use of a special device that can measure your breathing and other vital signs while you’re asleep. An expert can review the results of your sleep test in order to confirm whether you truly have sleep apnea.

Once your sleep disorder is diagnosed, you can explore your options for getting it under control. Traditionally, sleep apnea is treated with a CPAP machine; however, many patients find this approach to be too noisy and uncomfortable. If you’re searching for an alternative to CPAP, it may be worth asking your dentist for a customized oral appliance. This device can move your jaw slightly forward to help keep your airway open throughout the night, thus lowering the risk of your breathing being interrupted.

The vivid nightmares caused by sleep apnea are just another example of the toll that the disorder can take on your quality of life. If you have any reason to suspect that you’ve developed sleep apnea, it’s essential to act quickly to have it treated so that you can enjoy more restful nights again.

About the Author

Dr. Steve W. Cobb has more than 45 years of dental experience. He is a graduate of the Baylor School of Dentistry, and he is currently putting his skills and knowledge to good use by helping patients in Odessa protect their smiles. He prides himself on being able to offer a wide range of dental services, including oral appliances for treating sleep apnea. If you need a solution for sleep-disordered breathing, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Cobb by visiting his website or calling (432) 367-4774.