Is Sleep Apnea Connected to Seizures?

The human body is a complex network of connected systems. When something is amiss in one regard, it often has ripple effects that can have consequences for various aspects of an individual’s life. That is why different medical conditions are so often correlated with one another. For example, research indicates that sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea in Vero Beach, may cause or exacerbate a broad range of other conditions — it may even lead to seizures. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the connection between these two issues.

Seizures and Sleep Apnea

A lack of sleep can affect electrical and hormonal activity in the brain and may trigger seizures. In fact, some people who only experience one seizure in their entire life do so after they stayed awake all night studying or partying. Research from the Epilepsy Foundation has even found that that around 40 percent of those who have epilepsy also have sleep apnea. A separate study, conducted in Norway, found that lack of sleep and excessive tiredness were among the most common triggers for seizures.

It is also worth noting that many people with epilepsy may have undiagnosed sleep apnea. They might not even recognize sleep apnea’s symptoms because not everyone with the condition snores. Moreover, these people could attribute other sleep apnea symptoms, such as daytime fatigue, to seizures and epilepsy medication.

Can Sleep Apnea Treatment Help to Control Seizures?

Individuals who suffer from seizures may find that sleep apnea therapy reduces the frequency of their epileptic episodes. As the brain recovers from the effects of chronic sleep deprivation, the malfunctions in it that lead to seizures may become less common.

Therefore, if you experience seizures, you should seriously consider asking your doctor to arrange a sleep test for you — even if you do not snore. During the test, machines will monitor your breathing and other vital signs for a night. Once an expert analyzes the results, you will know whether you have sleep apnea and how severe the problem is.

Following your diagnosis, you can begin considering your treatment options. While a CPAP machine is the most commonly prescribed way to address sleep apnea, many patients find that the machine is cumbersome. An oral sleep appliance is a more comfortable and convenient option. Such an appliance gently repositions the jaw to allow for unobstructed breathing at night.

Sleep apnea and seizures are strongly correlated. Taking action to improve the quality and quantity of your rest could also help you manage your epilepsy!

About the Author

Dr. Kenneth Mogell is a dentist and sleep apnea expert who has helped countless patients to discover better rest through oral appliance therapy. He has many years of experience, and he has been awarded Diplomate status with the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. If you would like to learn more about Dr. Mogell or talk to him about how you could be diagnosed and treated for a sleep disorder, contact our Vero Beach office at 772-882-6800.