Sleep Disorders
Disclaimer: Not medical or professional advice. Always seek the advice of your physician.
Sleep disorders are a group of conditions that affect the quality, timing, and amount of sleep.
Getting a good night's sleep is incredibly important not only for restoring energy, but also has a noticeable effect on your hormone balance, weight, mood, and overall health. Sleep deprivation can exacerbate the symptoms of many diseases and lower motivation to engage in any activities.
Symptoms of Sleep Disorders
- inability to fall asleep at the usual time
- superficial, shallow, intermittent periods of sleep
- early morning awakenings long before the alarm clock
- feeling tired immediately upon awakening and during the day
- daytime sleepiness
- emotional instability, problems with concentration
- anxiety before sleep
Types of Sleep Disorders
Insomnia
Insomnia refers to difficulty falling or staying asleep. Patients with long-term insomnia have 1.5 times increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. It is also associated with a higher risk of depression and cardiovascular diseases. Insomnia can significantly impair quality of life.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by episodes of breathing cessation lasting at least 10 seconds. People who suffer from sleep apnea often snore, experiencing restlessness and irregular breathing during sleep. Breathing usually stops and resumes with loud snoring. As a result, people do not get enough sleep at night. They feel drowsy and lethargic.
Severe types of sleep apnea have been linked to increased risk for cardiovascular problems. Untreated sleep apnea can be dangerous since the patient may not resume breathing.
Parasomnia
Parasomnias are a category of sleep disorders that involve abnormal movements and behaviors during sleep. The most recognized parasomnias include:
- Enuresis, or nighttime bedwetting, often affects children, but it may persist into adulthood.
- Sleep terrors, nightmares.
- Somnambulism (sleepwalking) is a condition in which a sleeping person performs various actions (such as walking, talking) as if they are awake.
- Nocturnal epileptic seizures.
- Bruxism (teeth grinding at night).
Restless Leg Syndrome
People with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) experience an uncomfortable feeling in the legs, coupled with an overwhelming urge to move them. Symptoms usually occur in the late afternoon or evening hours. However, the most common time for RLS to occur is at night when a person is resting. Symptoms also appear during extended periods of sitting, such as while flying in a plane or watching a movie.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that causes a person to experience uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep during the daytime. People with this condition may also suddenly fall asleep at any time. Unfortunately, there is no cure for narcolepsy. Patients fall asleep during ordinary daily activities, even if they're in the middle of talking.
Causes of Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders have many possible causes. They are often associated with situational factors when a person has trouble falling asleep for several days due to emotional stress, strong feelings, and frustration. These sleeping problems may eventually go away once people return to a normal emotional state.
Chronic sleep disorders can occur for a number of reasons.
- neurological and psychiatric disorders
- hormone imbalance
- cardiovascular diseases
- drain tumors
- side effects of medications
- excessive caffeine intake — coffee, strong tea, energy drinks
How to Fix Sleep Problems
- Try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time.
- Make sure your bedroom is comfortable.
- Stop using electronic devices before bedtime. Smartphone screens emit light that restrains the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone.
- Walk more during the day.
- Add physical activity to your daily routine, but avoid exercising before bed. It can negatively affect your sleep.
- Avoid anxiety-inducing activities before bedtime.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine a few hours before bed.
- Stay away from heavy meals or plenty of fluids at least two to three hours before you go to sleep.
These recommendations can be effective for treating mild forms of sleep disorders. If lifestyle changes do not help, you should see your doctor.