Sleep Disorders: These refer to issues which affect people in such a way that they are unable to have quality sleep. They might be brought about by many health-related issues, stress, and other habits, and they seem to be on the rise, especially in America.
For instance, sleep disturbances can be experienced by everyone. Stress, busy schedules, and other pressures in everyday life can cause sleep disturbances. However, sleep disturbances can be an indicator that one is experiencing a sleep disorder when the disturbances happen regularly.
Individuals suffering from a sleep disorder may have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or even feeling refreshed after a night of sleep. This can lead to tired individuals during their daytime hours. This can impact one’s mood, level of energy, concentration, and even overall health.
At other instances, sleep disorders can be associated with other health or psychological issues. As such, the sleep disorders can be resolved once the health or psychological issues have been addressed. When this is not the case, then the health or psychological issues will be addressed, alongside habit adjustments.
If you believe that you have sleep disorder issues, it is crucial that you seek assistance as soon as possible. If not, sleep disorders can result in serious health conditions, impact job performance, affect interpersonal relations, and even make it harder to manage daily tasks.
Kinds of Sleep Disorders
A great many individuals are not getting adequate sleep. Many adults are sleeping less than seven hours a night, and many students are not resting well during the week.
There exist various sleep disorders, which can cause difficulties in having good sleep. Some sleep disorders originate from other conditions.
Insomnia
“Insomnia is a problem that occurs when a person has difficulty falling or maintaining sleep.” It can be caused by stress and/or anxiety, jet lag, “hormonal fluctuations and dyspepsia.” Other times, “insomnia can be associated with other clinical disorders.”
If the insomnia persists, then it might impact daily life. You can experience the following:
-
tired and moody
-
unable to focus
-
easily irritated
-
gain weight
-
perform poorly at work or school
Insomnia is very common and affects many adults, especially older people and women.
There are three main types of insomnia:
-
Long-term insomnia – sleep problems that last three months or more
-
On-and-off insomnia – sleep problems that come and go
-
Short-term insomnia – sleep trouble that lasts only a few nights
Sleep Problems Explained in Non-Technical Terms
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea happens during sleep, when a person stops and starts breathing continuously. That implies that the body doesn’t get enough oxygen and may cause a wake-up many times during the night without even realizing it. That’s why their typical complaint would be daytime tiredness and low energy despite just having rested.
There are two major types. One occurs when the throat relaxes too much and blocks airflow. The other happens when the brain doesn’t send proper signals to tell the body to breathe.
Parasomnias
Parasomnias are unusual things people do while they’re asleep. This can include sleepwalking, talking in your sleep, having nightmares, grinding your teeth, or bedwetting. Most people don’t remember any of this when they wake up.
Restless Leg Syndrome
When a person has restless leg syndrome, there are unpleasant sensations within their legs and an intense urge to move them so that the urge can be fulfilled temporarily. Moreover, restless leg syndrome often worsens at night or when one is resting, thereby making it challenging for a person to fall asleep.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a neurological problem pertaining to the control of sleeping. Sufferers of narcolepsy may find themselves feeling very tired during the day without warning. This is sometimes accompanied by sudden episodes when the body is unable to move after waking.
Common Symptoms of Sleep Disorders
The symptoms of sleeping problems might vary from person to person, depending upon the type of problem they have and how serious it is. They might change if they have some other health issues as the cause of their sleeping problems.
That said, many people with sleep disorders experience some of these common signs:
-
trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
-
feeling tired or drained during the day
-
a strong need to nap during daytime hours
-
unusual breathing while sleeping
-
uncomfortable urges to move the body when trying to sleep
-
strange movements or experiences during sleep
-
changes in your normal sleep routine without meaning to
-
feeling irritable, anxious, or on edge
-
poor performance at work or school
-
trouble focusing or paying attention
-
feeling low or depressed
-
unexpected weight gain
What Causes Sleep Disorders?
Sleep disorders can result from numerous medical and lifestyle conditions. Most of the time, people who have sleep disorders have developed the disorder from another medical condition.
Allergies and breathing problems
Allergies, the common cold, and respiratory problems may make breathing at night difficult. Nasal congestion may affect sleep as well as the ability to sleep soundly.
Frequent Urination During Sleep
Waking up during the night to relieve your bladder may interrupt your sleep. This condition is known as excessive urination during the night. It may be associated with a change in hormones or a urinary issue. When accompanied by pain or bleeding, you should seek a doctor.
Ongoing pain
Long-term pain can make it hard to fall asleep or can wake you up during the night. Common causes of chronic pain include:
-
arthritis
-
chronic fatigue syndrome
-
fibromyalgia
-
digestive conditions like inflammatory bowel disease
-
frequent headaches
-
long-lasting lower back pain
In some cases, sleep problems can actually make pain worse. For example, poor sleep is often linked to fibromyalgia.
Anxiety and stress
Anxiety and stress significantly disrupt sleep patterns. Both make the mind very active during night time, thus disrupting sleep or the tendency and capability to fall asleep. They also give rise to nightmares, sleep talking, and sleepwalking.
How Are Sleep Disorders Diagnosed?
To determine if a sleep disorder is present, a medical professional will begin by performing a physical exam and taking a medical history. A medical professional may also suggest the following sleeping tests:
Sleep Study (Polysomnography)
This is an overnight test done in a sleep lab and monitors things such as brain activity, oxygen levels, and body movement while you sleep. In some instances, home sleep tests may be utilized, particularly to diagnose sleep apnea.
Brain activity test (EEG)
It tests how the brain’s electricity functions and can detect problems that can impact sleep. It’s commonly conducted in conjunction with other methods that examine how the whole sleep process works.
Daytime sleep test (MSLT)
This test measures how long you take to fall asleep in the daytime. It is normally carried out after an overnight sleep test. It was developed to diagnose patients with narcolepsy.
These tests help doctors understand what’s causing your sleep problems so they can choose the right treatment.
How Are Sleep Disorders Treated?
Treating sleep problems depends on what’s causing them. Usually, it’s a mix of medical help and small lifestyle changes.
Medical Treatments
Your doctor might suggest:
-
Sleeping pills or melatonin
-
Medicines for allergies, colds, or other health issues
-
Breathing devices or surgery (for sleep apnea)
-
Dental guards (for teeth grinding)
Lifestyle Changes
Making simple changes in daily habits can really improve sleep:
-
Eat more vegetables and fish, and cut down on sugar
-
Exercise, stretch, or relax to reduce stress
-
Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day
-
Drink less water before bedtime
-
Avoid caffeine late in the day
-
Limit alcohol and smoking
-
Eat small, low-carb meals at night
-
Keep a healthy weight
What to Expect
Sleep disruptions can be frustrating, and sleeping better often takes time. However, following your physician’s recommendations and maintaining good practices will help improve your sleeping habits.
Conclusion
Sleep disorders are quite common, and these disorders can occur in anyone. What happens is that these disorders hinder you from sleeping, leading to effects on your moods, energy levels, concentration, as well as general health.
The bright side is that sleep disturbances can be managed and treated in most cases. By employing optimal medical and lifestyle interventions, an individual can easily improve their sleeping condition and feel refreshing throughout the day.
Read Also:
