By Jordan Stern, MD CEO and Medical Director
How Does Sleep Apnea Cause Dizziness?
The connection between dizziness and sleep apnea occurs primarily because:
- Sleep apnea causes intermittent oxygen deprivation throughout the night when breathing repeatedly stops and starts. This reduced oxygen to the brain can cause dizziness, particularly upon waking or during the day.
- The fragmented, poor-quality sleep from sleep apnea often leads to sleep deprivation, which can independently cause dizziness and lightheadedness.
- Sleep apnea can affect blood pressure regulation, sometimes causing morning headaches and dizziness.
- The condition can also contribute to cardiovascular issues that might affect blood flow to the brain.
If you're experiencing dizziness along with symptoms like loud snoring, observed breathing pauses during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, or difficulty concentrating, consult your healthcare provider or make an appointment with BlueSleep. They can assess whether sleep apnea might be the cause and recommend appropriate testing, such as a home sleep test.
New Research Shows a Connection Between Dizziness and Sleep Apnea
A new study by Carol Foster published in Otol Neurotol, a publication of the American Otological Society and American Neurotology Society, concluded that brief spells of dizziness (nonpositional vertigo that recur throughout the day, phenotypically similar to vestibular paroxysmia) responded to treatment of sleep apnea, and could represent a new vestibular entity.
The greatly elevated risk of migraine, Menière's disease and sudden sensorineural hearing loss are likely due to enhanced vascular risks associated with sleep apnea. A history of snoring should be sought in all dizzy patients.
Other Studies Show a Link Between Dizziness and Sleep Apnea
Several studies have demonstrated a significant association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and dizziness: Xu et al. found a high prevalence of vertigo and dizziness in patients with OSA, with 22.46% of OSA patients reporting these symptoms. Foster and Machala described that patients with sleep apnea often experience repeated spells of sudden momentary vertigo, and conditions like vestibular migraine and Menière's disease are more frequent in this population.
Additionally, Szeto and Kesser reported that in elderly patients, daytime somnolence and sleep apnea were independently associated with increased odds of dizziness, even after adjusting for medical comorbidities. Kayabasi et al. also found that vestibular functions were impaired in patients with moderate-to-severe OSA, indicating a higher prevalence of dizziness and balance disorders in this group.
These findings suggest that clinicians should consider the possibility of OSA in patients presenting with dizziness, particularly if other common causes have been ruled out.
In any case, if you’re waking up often; having headaches; and/or suffering from constant daytime sleepiness, make an appointment with a BlueSleep specialist and start with a simple home sleep test.
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