Va Sleep Apnea And Ptsd

The pulmonologist noted the Veterans early symptoms of PTSD as well as heavy drinking and indicated that it would be difficult to isolate sleep apnea.

Va sleep apnea and ptsd. There are factors that overlap in both disorders which affect and aggravate each other. Our VA research lab has been studying the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD since 2004. Untreated sleep apnea may have a negative effect on sleep. This correlation between the two becomes even stronger when the study determined that an increase in the severity of PTSD leads to an increase in the probability of sleep apnea.

It seems that treatment may be helpful and it is certainly an association that should not be overlooked. Sleep apnea is common among people with PTSD particularly in Veterans. Among those with PTSD the potential sleep fragmentation may increase awakenings nightmares cortisol release and other symptoms. Most veterans link PTSD and sleep apnea in that PTSD can lead to weight gain and sleep apnea is associated with obesity.

The study found that about 69 of veterans with PTSD are at a high risk for sleep apnea which is a sleep disorder causing a person to repeatedly stop and start breathing. Research shows that 83 of type 2 diabetes patients suffer from sleep apnea. The research also showed that the risk for sleep apnea climbs for those with more severe PTSD. Relationship Between Sleep Apnea and PTSD.

The causes of sleep apnea in military members and Veterans can be related to toxin exposure such as smoke from burn pits trauma both physical and mental weight gain secondary to disabilities that prevent exercise among other things. There is also a direct correlation regarding the severity of the two conditions insofar as the more severe a veterans PTSD is the more severe their sleep apnea will be. While its more common for the public to associate veterans disabilities with disfigurement amputations or chronic pain its important that vets their doctors and the general public take sleep apnea seriously. PTSD and sleep apnea have similar stressors in regards to sleep.

People with sleep apnea may wake up not feeling rested and struggle with feeling tired or needing to sleep during the daytime. PTSD does NOT cause Sleep Apnea however PTSD and side effects of medications taken to manage PTSD symptoms can aggravate obesity weight gain leading to the development of Obstructive Sleep Apnea OSA in Veterans hence Sleep Apnea Secondary to PTSD can be granted. The VA will reward sleep apnea secondary service-connection to PTSD now but it is not a sure thing. TAPS is a newly funded 5-year VA research program which aims to further clarify the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and PTSD.

Being aware of sleep apnea can be difficult. The recommended first-line treatment approach in the VADoD Clinical Practice Guideline CPG for PTSD is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia CBT-I when available 21 which is agreeable to the American College of Physicians first-line recommended treatment approach for sleep problems 22 and the VADoD Clinical Practice Guideline CPG for Chronic Insomnia Disorder and Obstructive Sleep Apnea recommendation for treating chronic insomnia 23. But rapidly accumulating data suggests sleep apnea is also associated with alterations in glucose metabolism increasing the risk for type 2 diabetes. Sleep Apnea is the most common chronic illness in the United States.

Many factors that aggravate PTSD have been shown to aggravate sleep apnea as well such as sleep deprivation chronic stress and hyperarousal. Research shows that veterans with PTSD have a higher risk of developing sleep apnea. Active duty military members have been shown to be more susceptible to sleep disorders such as sleep apnea.