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Sleep Deprivation Disguised as ADD — And How Sleep Apnea Machines Can Help

August 28, 2009 on 8:43 pm | In Uncategorized | No Comments

A recent study revealed that many people currently diagnosed with ADD may not be ADD at all, but suffering from sleep apnea. It may sound shocking at first, but experts say that the connection between sleep deprivation and ADD is undeniable. Instead of the drugs and chemicals used to treat ADD, many have virtually eliminated all of their ADD behaviors with the overflow delivered through a CPAP machine.

How Could A Sleep Disorder Be Misdiagnosed as ADD?

The symptoms associated with ADD and sleep deprivation are almost identical; symptoms such as behavioral issues, mood swings, and inability to concentrate for long periods and difficulty adequately completing tasks.

A recent study was conducted in which fifty “ADD” sufferers participated in a sleep study. As the study progressed, it became clear that 66% of the participants suffered from some form of sleeping disorder. This 66% was then asked to wear CPAP machines through the night for three months. In the end, the sleep study revealed that only fifteen of the original fifty people that believed they suffered from ADD actually did suffer from ADD.

How To Distinguish ADD from Sleep Deprivation

ADD and sleep apnea are difficult to diagnose properly without a sleep study because they are so similar. To determine whether you suffer from a sleeping disorder you’ll need to undergo a simple overnight sleep study. During the night, a machine called a polysomnogram will monitor your heart rate and rhythm, breathing patterns, sleep patterns, brain activity, oxygen levels, and muscle tone. A trained expert will monitor your polysomnogram results as you sleep, looking for usual patterns and other information that can lead to a diagnosis.

Common Sleep Disorders

There most common type of sleep disorder is sleep apnea — a condition where a person literally stops breathing for up to a minute or more through the night. The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea caused when the muscles around the throat collapse upon the windpipe when they relax.

Lack of Sleep Is Serious Business

Sleep deprivation can cause irreparable damage in many cases, being correlated with a loss of IQ in some, the loss of memory, both physical and mental, as well as causing problems with interactions both personal and work-related. It weakens the immune system, has also been linked to serious diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

What To Do If You Suspect a Sleep Disorder

If you or someone you know is suffering from sleepless nights, or if you believe a misdiagnosis has occurred, we urge you to go in for a sleep study. For many, a CPAP machine that stints the throat and provides a continuous flow of oxygen is a welcome treatment compared with psychotropic medications for ADD. A sleep apnea machine may a simple, natural solution for living a health, vibrant, and productive life.