Achieving Better Sleep Quality: Recognizing and Treating Sleep Disorders
March 3, 2023
5 min read
Sleep disorders are prevalent, affecting millions of people worldwide. In this article, we will explore what sleep disorders are, their causes, and how we can take control of our health by understanding them.
Sleep Disorders: What Are They?
Although sleep is vital to our daily routine, many fail to acknowledge its importance. Frequently, we compromise on sleep to fulfill work, family, or social commitments. However, the reality is that a restful night's sleep is crucial for our general health and wellness.
Sleep disorders are conditions that affect the quality and quantity of sleep. They can cause difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early. Some common sleep disorders include insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and narcolepsy.
Symptoms of sleep disorders can vary but may include fatigue, daytime sleepiness, mood changes, difficulty concentrating, and memory problems.
Sleep Disorders: What Causes Them?
From altered hormones to physical pain, many potential causes can disrupt our body's natural sleep cycles. Unfortunately, the resultant impact is all too familiar and potentially devastating—exhaustion during daily life activities despite having spent countless hours in bed, unable or unwilling to restful slumber. Eight common factors behind these problems include:
- Aging
- Ulcers
- Medications
- Asthma
- Genetics
- Night work schedule
- Alcohol intake
- Depression and anxiety disorders
Sleep Disorders: What Are the Common Symptoms?
Do you find yourself having trouble sleeping or staying asleep? You may be experiencing signs of a sleep disorder. Some symptoms to look out for include:
- Requiring frequent naps
- Drifting off to sleep while driving
- Struggling to process your emotions
- Having difficulties with work or school performance
- Sluggish responses
- Experiencing memory issues
- Difficulty staying awake during inactive periods
Sleeping Disorders: What Are the Main Types?
Sleep disorders can have a severe impact on our physical and mental health. They can manifest in various forms and range from mild to severe. The most common sleep disorders include:
1. Circadian Rhythm Disorders
Disorders of the circadian rhythm encompass a cluster of sleep-related conditions that cause disturbances in the body's natural sleep-wake cycle. Examples of circadian rhythm disorders include jet lag, shift work sleep disorder, and delayed sleep phase syndrome. These disorders can cause difficulties falling asleep and staying asleep, as well as fatigue, mood changes, and difficulty concentrating.
2. Insomnia
A frequently occurring sleep disorder, insomnia, impairs the capacity to initiate sleep, sustain it, or both. As a result, people with insomnia often experience fatigue, mood changes, difficulty concentrating, and memory problems. Various factors, such as stress, anxiety, depression, medication side effects, and medical conditions, such as chronic pain, can cause insomnia.
3. Restless Leg Syndrome
Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a disorder that induces an irresistible urge to shift the legs, frequently accompanied by a prickling or scorching sensation. RLS can interfere with sleep and cause fatigue, mood changes, and difficulty concentrating. The exact cause of RLS is unknown, but it is believed to be related to abnormalities in dopamine levels in the brain.
4. Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a disorder that triggers interruptions in breathing while sleeping. These cessations in breathing may last for numerous seconds, and individuals affected by sleep apnea often snore loudly and experience extreme fatigue throughout the day. Two categories of sleep apnea are obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is classified into two types:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). It's more typical of the other. It occurs when the airway is obstructed, often due to the collapse of soft tissue in the back of the throat during sleep. Common symptoms of OSA include snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, restlessness, sleepiness, and gasping for air during sleep.
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA). It is characterized by the brain's failure to signal the body to breathe, even though there is no blockage in the airway. This type of sleep apnea is referred to as central because it is related to the function of the central nervous system. People with CSA may experience recurrent awakenings at night and gasp for air, but the symptoms are not typically related to airway obstruction.
5. Parasomnias
Parasomnias comprise a set of sleep disorders characterized by abnormal behaviors while sleeping. Examples of parasomnias include sleepwalking, night terrors, and REM sleep behavior disorder, which involves acting out vivid dreams during the REM sleep stage. Parasomnias can interfere with sleep quality and cause fatigue, mood changes, and difficulty concentrating.
6. Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a disorder that induces an unreasonable amount of daytime sleepiness and unexpected, unmanageable occurrences of sleep. Individuals with narcolepsy frequently encounter lucid dreams and might undergo cataplexy, a rapid loss of muscle control provoked by intense emotions such as laughter or astonishment. The reason for narcolepsy remains unclear, but it is assumed to be linked to a deficit of a neurotransmitter known as hypocretin in the brain.
Sleeping Disorders: How Are They Diagnosed?
If you are anxious about a potential sleep disorder, seek advice from your healthcare provider. They can perform a physical exam and help identify any difficulties you may be experiencing with sleep. Keeping a two-week sleep diary may also be helpful for them. In addition, tests may need to be done to rule out other conditions causing disturbed sleep.
A referral to a sleep clinic and performing a sleep study polysomnogram (PSG) will likely follow if a sleep disorder is suspected. Treatment for common sleeping problems often involves behavioral therapies and improving overall sleep hygiene.
Sleeping Disorders: How Are They Treated?
Your doctor may recommend a medical treatment that could include, depending on the type of sleep disorder you have, including:
- Sleeping pills or melatonin supplements.
- Allergy or cold medication.
- Medications for treating underlying health conditions.
- An assistive breathing device or surgery, particularly for sleep apnea.
- Teeth guard for teeth grinding.
Combining medical treatments with lifestyle adjustments can also enhance the quality of your sleep. Below are some lifestyle alterations that you might want to contemplate:
- Consume lighter meals that are low in carbohydrates before bedtime.
- Reduce your caffeine consumption during the later hours of the day.
- Keep your sleeping habits consistent by following a regular sleep schedule.
- Eating more veggies and fish while also cutting down on sugar.
- Decrease your use of tobacco and alcohol intake.
- Reduce your water intake close to bedtime.
- Incorporating exercise into your routine to manage stress and anxiety.
Unlock the Benefits of Quality Sleep Today
Sleep disorders can significantly impact a person's physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being, making seeking timely diagnosis and treatment vital. Understanding the common types of sleep disorders, their symptoms, and their potential impact on a person's daily life is essential in taking control of one's health.
By following the recommendations of healthcare professionals and making necessary lifestyle changes, individuals can improve the quality and quantity of sleep, leading to improved physical and mental health outcomes.
