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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LostBoyinNCReturns on March 17, 2012, at 10:26:07
There are reports coming out of the scientific community and the sleep medicine research world claiming that untreated sleep apnea causes brain damage. Specifically, it is the hypoxia, also known as oxygen desaturations or "desats" that destroy brain cells.
While these reports are not yet claiming any relationship between sleep apnea induced brain damage and mood disorders or psychosis, I have privately wondered about this. Could untreated sleep apnea (even mild apnea, over years) destroy brain tissue via hypoxia that could eventually make a person more susceptible to a major depressive episode? Or to a psychotic break? Or just make you less resistant to stress?
Also, since hypoxia is associated with panic (fight or flight syndrome), I have wondered if sleep apnea sets a person up for anxiety problems.
Just some ideas.
Eric
Posted by Phillipa on March 17, 2012, at 12:07:24
In reply to Sleep apnea causes brain damage (hypoxia induced), posted by LostBoyinNCReturns on March 17, 2012, at 10:26:07
If judging how anxious hospitalized COPD or asthma patients are or how frightening it is not to be able to breath as in choking I'd think it could lead to anxiety? Interesting. Phillipa
Posted by LostBoyinNCReturns on March 17, 2012, at 13:21:40
In reply to Re: Sleep apnea causes brain damage (hypoxia induced) » LostBoyinNCReturns, posted by Phillipa on March 17, 2012, at 12:07:24
> If judging how anxious hospitalized COPD or asthma patients are or how frightening it is not to be able to breath as in choking I'd think it could lead to anxiety? Interesting. Phillipa
Exactly my point. I have a lot of formal first aid training and one of my certs is American Red Cross Oxygen Administration for the Professional Rescuer. One of the questions on the test for this cert has to do with hypoxia causing people to "act agitated and irritable."
That agitation and irritability is Mother Nature's way of saying "get some oxygen, now!!!"
Eric
Posted by Phillipa on March 17, 2012, at 20:53:28
In reply to Re: Sleep apnea causes brain damage (hypoxia induced), posted by LostBoyinNCReturns on March 17, 2012, at 13:21:40
Totally agree. Phillipa
Posted by mellow on March 17, 2012, at 21:51:15
In reply to Sleep apnea causes brain damage (hypoxia induced), posted by LostBoyinNCReturns on March 17, 2012, at 10:26:07
Hypoxemia does cause brain damage. The good news is that around six months after CPAP treatment the frontal region of the brain can start to repair itself. There was an article on webmd about this last year where they did MRI's before and after treatment and the brain was healing and cognition was getting much better in the patients on CPAP.
COPD patients have the opposite problem in that they can not exchange gases properly and can not rid themselves of CO2. They get what is known as CO2 narcosis and can certainly act psychotic or lose their orientation to reality or thier setting.
Breathing is crucial!
mellow
Posted by LostBoyinNCReturns on March 18, 2012, at 13:42:45
In reply to Re: Sleep apnea causes brain damage (hypoxia induced), posted by mellow on March 17, 2012, at 21:51:15
> Hypoxemia does cause brain damage. The good news is that around six months after CPAP treatment the frontal region of the brain can start to repair itself. There was an article on webmd about this last year where they did MRI's before and after treatment and the brain was healing and cognition was getting much better in the patients on CPAP.
>
> COPD patients have the opposite problem in that they can not exchange gases properly and can not rid themselves of CO2. They get what is known as CO2 narcosis and can certainly act psychotic or lose their orientation to reality or thier setting.
>
> Breathing is crucial!
>
> mellowDid not know that fact about COPD. Interesting. As a patient I find pulmonary medicine and sleep medicine much more interesting (and much more reliable) than psychiatry or psychology.
As far as the brain repairing itself after about six months, hmmmmmmm I have read similar reports. But I am frankly skeptical. I am of the old school, which believes once the brain is damaged, it will rarely to never be totally repaired. Some repair? Sure if you adhere to CPAP very tightly, which most dont. I do, but Im not typical on that. Im very CPAP compliant.
Some repair sure, but full repair? I dont know. know once a delicate organ like the brain is damaged, even mildly, it is not a good thing.
Eric
This is the end of the thread.
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