How your breathing affects your quality of sleep > how your sleep affects your brain > how your brain affects your mood (rinse and repeat!)
Follow me here: Your brain is the powerhouse for all bodily activities.
Your brain is critically dependent on oxygen.
So, it only makes sense that if you have a breathing disorder, the reduced oxygen means reduced brain function. This may manifest in young children as bedwetting, delayed growth, or learning inabilities. It might appear in teens as depression, rebellion, or anxiety. Adults can have brain fog, memory loss, or the inability to fight off major health concerns like diabetes and heart disease.
Just as the recommended “twice a day brushing” (and FLOSSING) routine is essential for your dental health, a good night’s sleep is mandatory for your brain’s health. If you, or someone you know, is experiencing breathing difficulties while sleeping…as evidenced by the inability to stay asleep, snoring, morning headaches, etc., you need to take matters into your own hands — and the sooner the better!
Every person — children, students, and adults — needs sufficient, QUALITY sleep to learn, retain, cope, and perform. A poor sleep routine can lead to more than just tiredness and a cranky outlook, it can mean serious health troubles ahead. Add poor sleep to what’s happening in the world today, and let’s just say it’s time to take charge of your whole health in ways you might not have considered previously.
The COVID-era has been tough on a lot of us. Reports of mental health issues caused by isolation, remote work/schooling requirements, economic uncertainties, and overall anxiety are appearing in all ages in a variety of different ways. Couple this with the inability to obtain restful, refreshing sleep and you have the recipe for disaster. Let’s explore further…
While you may already know that a regular and healthy sleep routine of 7-8 hours a night is medically recommended, did you know that quality sleep can affect your body’s immunity system and its ability to cope with stress?
It’s a vicious cycle: Difficulty sleeping is often the first symptom of depression.
When you’re sad or stressed, you may find it hard to sleep.
Dr. Lawrence Epstein of the Harvard Sleep Health Center confirms, “People who have problems with sleep are at an increased risk for developing emotional disorders, depression, and anxiety.”
What’s the answer? Lifestyle modification. Turn off. Unplug. Eat well. Get some exercise. Get to bed and get — and STAY — asleep. But these simple known facts may not be YOUR answer. If you have sleep apnea or difficulty breathing while sleeping it will keep you from the deep, restful sleep you need. Your brain will simply not get the amount of oxygen to function normally. But the “fix” might be easier than you think.
You can take a free sleep assessment test HERE and learn more.
Colorado Healthy Sleep in Lafayette, Colo., can perform a simple, quick, non-invasive scan that will show if your airway is obstructed. From there, they may recommend a simple retainer-like appliance that will help you breathe better during sleep.
If you have already been diagnosed with sleep apnea and have tried a CPAP machine and did not get relief, you do have options. LEARN MORE
What YOU do for your own health on a daily – and NIGHTLY – basis can be a powerful natural medicine. If you don’t wake up feeling rested at least five mornings a week, we urge you to call us and seek help now, before your simple lack of sleep becomes a serious health issue.