SLEEP DISORDERS
Sleep disorders are conditions that result in changes in the way that a person sleeps. A sleep disorder can affect ones overall health, safety and quality of life. Sleep deprivation can affect the ability to drive safely and increase risk of other health problems.
Some Signs and Symptoms include excessive daytime sleepiness, irregular breathing or increased movement during sleep. Other signs include an irregular sleep and wake cycle and difficulty falling asleep.
Some common types of sleep disorders include:
Insomnia
A condition in which you have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night.
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep, or cause you to wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep.
Sleep apnea
This happens when a person experiences abnormal patterns in breathing while they are asleep. There are several types of sleep apnea.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS), a type of sleep movement disorder. *Restless legs syndrome, also called Willis-Ekbom disease,* causes an uncomfortable sensation and an urge to move the legs while you try to fall asleep.
Narcolepsy is a condition characterized by extreme sleepiness during the day and falling asleep suddenly during the day.
How much sleep is enough varies from person to person, but most adults need about seven to eight hours a night.
At some point, many adults experience short-term (acute) insomnia, which lasts for days or weeks. It’s usually the result of stress or a traumatic event. But some people have long-term (chronic) insomnia that lasts for a month or more. Insomnia may be the primary problem, or it may be associated with other medical conditions or medications.
Symptoms
Insomnia symptoms may include:
•Difficulty falling asleep at night
•Waking up during the night
•Waking up too early
•Not feeling well-rested after a night’s sleep
•Daytime tiredness or sleepiness
•Irritability, depression or anxiety
•Difficulty paying attention, focusing on tasks or remembering
Increased errors or accidents
•Ongoing worries about sleep
Causes
Insomnia may be the primary problem, or it may be associated with other conditions.
Chronic insomnia is usually a result of stress, life events or habits that disrupt sleep. Treating the underlying cause can resolve the insomnia.
Common causes of Insomnia include:
•Stress
•Travel or work schedule
•Poor sleep habits
Some mental health disorders and medications can also be the cause of insomnia.
It is very important to probe deeply into the reason why a person finds it difficult to sleep, because that will be the basis for treatment
Insomnia also comes with ageing. More older people find sleeping less restful due to change in sleep patterns over time.
Advice to patient with insomnia and how to prevent it include:
•Keep your bedtime and wake time consistent from day to day, including weekends.
•Stay active regular activity helps promote a good night’s sleep.
•Check your medications to see if they may contribute to insomnia.
•Avoid or limit naps.
•Avoid or limit caffeine and alcohol, and don’t use nicotine.
•Avoid large meals and beverages before bedtime.
•Make your bedroom comfortable for sleep.
•Create a relaxing bedtime ritual, such as taking a warm bath, reading or listening to soft music.
Proper diagnosis of Anxiety and sleep disorders should be done by a specialist.