Royal Oak and Birmingham, MI
Snoring is common, although that doesn’t mean it is harmless. One of the most significant warning signs of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring, which means that your body struggles to breathe while sleeping due to an airway obstruction. Certain health and lifestyle factors can impact your risk of developing sleep apnea. For instance, consuming alcohol or being overweight makes a person more likely to be a snorer. However, did you know that certain medications can also affect your breathing patterns while you sleep? Today on the blog, find out how certain medications could cause snoring and what you can do about it.
What is sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep-breathing disorder in which the airway is partially or fully blocked. This means that the body isn’t getting enough oxygen when you breathe. As a result, the brain automatically signals the body to resume breathing again, which disrupts the sleep cycle. Often times, untreated sleep apnea leads to chronic fatigue, frequent headaches, low sex drive, irritability, and depression with snoring being one of (but not always) the primary symptom.
What’s the connection between certain medications and sleep apnea?
Some medications are known to increase one’s susceptibility to develop sleep apnea associated with weight gain.
Below are five medications that could worsen a case of sleep apnea or increase your risk of developing this sleep-breathing disorder.
- Antidepressants – Specifically, tricyclic antidepressants are known to stimulate the appetite, leading to greater caloric intake, snacking, or overeating that may result in weight gain. Another type of antidepressant known as SSRIs may impact the sleep cycle by interrupting the REM stage or rapid eye movement that occurs when you’re in the deepest sleep stage.
- Depakote – This medication is also known as a valproic acid, which is a mood stabilizer used to treat seizures and bipolar disorders, and in some cases, migraines that could impact one’s ability to fall asleep or stay asleep.
- Steroids – A common medication that is prescribed for inflammation and other ailments and disorders, steroids may cause weight gain in as many as 70% of users that take the medication long-term. You may recognize this medication by the name prednisone, which is a corticosteroid that is often prescribed to treat disorders or diseases related to inflammation in the body. Since this medication may lead to weight gain, the risk of obstructive sleep apnea increases.
- Antihistamines – According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, as many as 100 million Americans suffer from allergies. Most of these sufferers rely on antihistamines like Allegra or Zyrtec to reduce their allergic reactions. Unfortunately, antihistamines may cause weight gain that could increase one’s risk of excess fat around the neck that restricts the airways and causes obstructive sleep apnea.
- Insulin – It’s estimated that 8.4 million people take insulin to manage their blood sugar levels related to diabetes. A potential side effect of insulin use is weight gain, especially if you do not follow the dietary protocol set forth by your doctor. If you have diabetes and take insulin, consider scheduling a sleep apnea screening with Dr. Hartrick to rule out a serious sleep-breathing disorder.
Sleep Apnea Screening in Royal Oak and Birmingham, Michigan
Sleep apnea has been dubbed the “silent killer” because many of its sufferers are unaware that they snore or have this condition. Additionally, ignoring sleep apnea and not managing it properly increases the risk of comorbidities like an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and even dementia. If you snore or would like to schedule a sleep apnea screening, contact Hartrick Dentistry by calling (248) 549-0950.