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Sleep apnea, sleep disorders, and hypothyroidism
P VanDyck1, R Chadband, B Chaudhary
1Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta.
The American Journal of the Medical Sciences
|August 1, 1989
Summary
Hypothyroidism can cause sleep disorders, including sleep apnea. Treating thyroid issues with hormone replacement can significantly improve or resolve severe sleep apnea, making thyroid testing crucial for diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Sleep Medicine
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Hypothyroidism presents with diverse symptoms like apathy and lethargy.
- These symptoms may stem from sleep disturbances linked to hypothyroidism.
- Hypothyroidism is known to affect breathing regulation during sleep.
Observation:
- Patients with hypothyroidism often exhibit abnormal sleep patterns.
- Sleep apnea, encompassing central, obstructive, and mixed types, is frequently seen in hypothyroidism.
- A severe case of sleep apnea in a myxedema patient resolved with thyroid hormone therapy.
Findings:
- Thyroid hormone replacement therapy effectively treated severe sleep apnea in a myxedematous patient.
- Hypothyroidism is a significant contributing factor to various forms of sleep apnea.
- Sleep disturbances are a common, yet often overlooked, manifestation of hypothyroidism.
Implications:
- Myxedema-associated sleep apnea is a reversible condition.
- Thyroid function tests are essential in the work-up for patients with sleep apnea.
- Early diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism can alleviate sleep-related breathing disorders.