Not getting enough sleep can have serious impacts on every aspect of a person's life. Sleep deprivation increases risk for both physical and mental health problems, makes it difficult to concentrate and can, quite simply, make you feel horrible. For that reason, it's important to see a doctor if you feel you might have one of the following sleep disorders.
Insomnia
Insomnia is an unusual amount of trouble falling asleep or staying asleep over a time period. Recurrent insomnia can lead to sleep deprivation, and causes can vary from psychological and stress-related issues to actual physical problems. Most people who have insomnia are aware of the problem. Treatment includes prescription sedatives, although some people find that natural remedies such as melatonin or relaxation herbs such as valerian root can be helpful. Others find that environmental modifications such as making sure the bedroom is dark, or dietary factors such as avoiding caffeine past a certain time in the afternoon, can be helpful.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea stops your breathing for a few seconds at a time throughout the night. There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive and central. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common and is caused by blockages of the airways, such as swollen tonsils or obesity. Central sleep apnea is caused by problems in the respiratory areas of the brain. Both types are characterized by snoring, gasping and choking, as well as feeling tired despite an adequate number of hours asleep. People are usually not aware of their own apnea episodes, so partners or relatives of individuals with sleep apnea may be the first to raise concern about the problem. Treatment of sleep apnea can consist of tonsillectomy (in the event that this is the suspected cause) or of a type of mask that the individual wears during sleep that sends puffs of air periodically to maintain an open airway.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy "sleep attacks" occur during the day. A person suddenly falls asleep without warning for a few seconds to a few minutes at a time. The causes of narcolepsy are not well understood but the disorder can be dangerous if the sleep attack happens while driving, for example. Some medications can help people with narcolepsy to get through the day better, and behavioral modifications can reduce the risk of the attacks.
Somnambulism (Sleepwalking)
Sleepwalking can consist of simply stumbling around while asleep or it can be more complex with a person actually leaving the house and conducting various activities while technically asleep. People affected by sleepwalking will often have their eyes open and appear at first glance to be awake but will not be able to interact normally with people who are actually awake and will often not have any memory of their sleepwalking activities. Obviously, sleepwalking can be hazardous at times and can adversely affect a person's quality of life. Treatment consists of methods such as stress reduction and relaxation, getting enough sleep, and setting up alarms or using environmental modifications to prevent a sleepwalking person from leaving the bedroom.
Snoring
Snoring is often more of an inconvenience than a true disorder, but in some cases, it can be a serious problem in relationships if one partner snores to the extent that it interferes with the other partner's sleep. When a person suffers from snoring, medical problems such as sleep apnea need to be ruled out, but snoring frequently occurs without a clear medical cause. In the absence of medical problems, the treatment may consist of over-the-counter methods such as nose strips or choosing sleep positions that minimize snoring -- or in some cases, ear plugs for the non-snoring partner.
Tags: sleep apnea, asleep People, awake will, enough sleep, environmental modifications