If you have sleep apnea, you may already know it can impact your daily routines, oral health, and overall well-being. Frequent interruptions to your nightly circadian rhythms can contribute to other problems, including mood swings, headaches, heart strain, diabetes, chronic exhaustion, and trouble focusing.
The latter of these symptoms is often mistaken for one of the key indicators of another common concern: ADHD. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is believed to affect 15.5 million adults in the U.S., and can potentially exacerbate your sleep apnea. Continue reading to learn more about the connection between the two to help you improve your nightly rest!
What Exactly Is ADHD?
This condition refers to a brain-based condition that sometimes starts as early as childhood and can last into and throughout a person’s entire adult life. It’s marked by different symptoms of impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention that can interfere with your daily life.
For example, this developmental issue can hinder educational or professional accomplishments and interpersonal relationships, and can physically manifest as frequent fidgeting, an inability to sit still, talking excessively, seemingly inappropriate reactions to things, difficulty following instructions, challenges organizing, etc.
This chronic condition requires diagnosis by a doctor or other qualified professional, and can often be managed (but not cured) with medication, behavioral therapy, lifestyle changes and strategies, or a combination of all of these techniques.
Does ADHD Affect My Sleep Schedule?
Would you be surprised to learn that many people with ADHD are more alert in the evening? This is due to an atypical internal body clock and hormone cycles that release melatonin, the chemical that controls your sleep-wake cycle, later at night. Unfortunately, that means you might have a harder time functioning during the day as well as struggle to fall or stay asleep, which can be particularly harmful to those also coping with sleep apnea.
Furthermore, some medications to treat ADHD, such as amphetamines, function as a stimulant that can interrupt normal sleep cycles.
How Can I Get Better Sleep at Night?
If your ADHD is keeping you up, you might discuss alternative prescription options with your primary healthcare provider to minimize the impact of your medications. However, that’s not always the only cause behind your restlessness. You can potentially reduce symptoms of sleep apnea by:
- Go to bed consistently. Starting your nighttime routine at the same time each evening helps train your body to wind down for rest.
- Use any provided treatments. If you have a CPAP machine or oral appliance, use it as directed each night.
- Set an alarm. Getting up at the same time in the morning, including on weekends, might help regulate your body’s cycles more consistently.
- Reduce caffeine consumption. Avoiding stimulants like coffee, energy drinks, and late-day medication doses can help you feel calmer and more relaxed in the evening.
If you’re unsure whether your ADHD is affected by or contributing to sleep apnea, you can learn more by scheduling an appointment with your sleep dentist!
Meet the Author
Dr. Jennifer Sherwood Bragg is passionate about helping improve patients’ dental and general health by helping them get a quality night’s rest. She earned her dental degree from the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry, and today, is a member of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and other prestigious organizations, so you can trust that you’re in good hands. Once you have received an official sleep apnea diagnosis, she can provide a customized treatment plan to help reduce your symptoms and enhance your quality of life. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling (470) 281-9905.