INTRODUCTION
There are numerous detrimental effects of sleep disorders on a person's physical and mental health.
If you are suffering from sleeping disorders like insomnia, try to get rid of it as soon as possible as there are dozens of issues caused by sleep disorders including diabetes, heart disease, etc. Such conditions can also disrupt your thinking and decision-making ability and cause various effects on your overall health.
Here we will discuss in-depth the signs and symptoms of sleep disorder and try to find out its potential solutions.
WHAT IS A SLEEP DISORDER OR SLEEP PROBLEM?
Sleep disorder is a condition in which the quality, timing, and duration of sleep get affected.
Everyone occasionally experiences trouble falling asleep. However, if one experiences sleeping issues quite frequently and impacts day-to-day life, this can be considered a sleeping disorder. It can harm energy, mood, concentration, and overall health.
That is why it becomes important to get medical treatment and identify the underlying cause as soon as you suspect any symptom of a sleep disorder to improve your health, and quality of life. Otherwise, it can lead to extreme health consequences.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SLEEP DISORDER
Everyone experiences occasional sleeping problems but how to know whether the sleeping issue which you are facing is minor or more serious?
There are various signs and symptoms of sleep disorder. Some of the common signs include:
1) Difficulty in falling and staying asleep.
2) Daytime sleepiness and fatigue.
3) Fluctuating blood pressure and weight gain.
4) Feeling drowsy throughout the day.
5) Lack of concentration.
6) Anxiety, irritability, and annoyance.
7) Unusual breathing patterns during sleep.
8) Feeling of tiredness throughout the day.
9) Struggle to stay awake when inactive.
10) Weight gain.
TYPES OF COMMON SLEEP DISORDERS
There are several sleep disorders. Some of the major sleep disorders are -
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Insomnia :-
Insomnia is the inability to go to sleep or stay asleep at night. It is one of the most prevalent sleep disorders. Between 33% and 50% of adults have acute and chronic insomnia.
Acute insomnia can be caused by a traumatic event or jet lag from international travel, which is a transient condition. On the other hand, chronic insomnia lasts for longer than a month.
Sometimes issues like depression and anxiety can also contribute to insomnia. It is crucial to follow a good relaxing routine & improve sleep hygiene to cure insomnia.
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Sleep apnea :-
Sleep apnea is a serious yet treatable disorder in which breathing temporarily stops while sleeping, causing sudden and frequent awakenings.
People who are suffering from sleep apnea may either be taking pauses while breathing or releasing shallow breaths. People with this illness frequently stop breathing while they are asleep. Untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of high blood pressure and heart attacks while also disrupting the quality of your sleep.
It is a serious and perhaps fatal sleep problem. Seeing a doctor right away and learning how to treat this issue would always be a wise decision.
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Restless leg syndrome (RLS) :-
RLS is a sleep disorder that results in an intense & uncontrollable urge to move the legs. Continuous resting, lying down in bed, or sitting still for a long time causes an increase in such sensations. It mostly gets increased in the evening time, making it challenging to get to sleep and stay asleep.
Also, RLS can occur at any age. It is commonly observed in adults and gets terrible with age.
RLS has frequently been linked to dopamine neurotransmitter abnormalities. There are several methods for managing and reducing symptoms, including at-home self-care treatment and doctor consultation.
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Narcolepsy :-
When you have narcolepsy, you could experience sleep attacks in the midst of a conversation, at work, or while driving. It is a sleep disorder that causes extreme, uncontrollable daytime tiredness and drowsiness.
The main reason behind the cause of narcolepsy is dysfunction in the brain system that regulates circadian rhythm.
To lessen the possible impact of narcolepsy on the patient's life, the healthcare provider may treat narcolepsy with some medications in conjunction with behavioural treatments, such as regularly scheduled naps.
CIRCADIAN RHYTHM SLEEP DISORDERS
Disruption in the sleep-wake cycle or internal body clock is known as a circadian rhythm sleep disorder. It includes having trouble falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night, or getting up too early and having trouble going back to sleep.
Behavioural therapy and medication are available as treatment alternatives. Also the type of problem and how much it impacts your quality of life will determine the best course of treatment. One can also improve the circadian rhythm through short-term melatonin use, and adherence to a regular sleep-wake schedule.
SELF HELP FOR SLEEP DISORDERS
Once you start experiencing the signs and symptoms of a sleep disorder, there are some techniques you can incorporate into your day-to-day life to treat your sleep cycle.
1. Good day time practice -
Regardless of your current sleep issues, by maintaining a regular sleep pattern, exercising frequently, reducing your intake of coffee, alcohol, and nicotine, and controlling your stress will all contribute to better sleep over time.
2. Peaceful & relaxing bedtime routine -
• Make sure your bedroom is peaceful and dark. Also, avoid heavy meals and too many fluids intake late at night.
• Before going to bed, take a warm bath, read, or listen to soothing music to unwind. Always make sure to turn off screens at least an hour before bedtime.
• Also, practice meditation or another relaxation technique to calm down the mind and relax the body.
WHEN TO CONSULT A DOCTOR
Make an appointment with a sleep specialist or consult your family physician, especially when –
• Your main sleep problem is daytime sleepiness.
• You or your bed partner gasps or stops breathing during sleep.
• You fall asleep at inappropriate times, such as while talking, walking, or eating.
CONCLUSION
Sleep problems may not be fatal, but they hurt the quality of life. They can impair your ability to think clearly, maintain a healthy weight, perform well at work and negatively affect mental and physical health.
But if you have trouble sleeping, do not hesitate to visit your healthcare physician. By maintaining a good sleep and morning schedule, following the advice of a healthcare practitioner, and maintaining proper sleep hygiene, you will slowly but surely bring improvement in your sleep cycle and overall health.