|
There are several medical conditions, called sleep disorders, which can make it difficult or impossible to get a good night's sleep consistently. If you or someone you know might have some of the symptoms of one of the following disorders, contact a doctor. Doctors and sleep specialists can perform sleep tests that monitor your brain and body function while you sleep. Medical treatments are available for many of these disorders.
Insomnia: Insomnia is serious difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, which then leads to tiredness during the day. Most people will experience some form of insomnia during their lifetimes. Usually the problem is only temporary, lasting anywhere from one night or two up to a couple of weeks. Temporary insomnia is usually caused by a period of stress or anxiety, illness, or a temporary disruption in sleep habits. An example would be jet lag. Usually this problem is nothing to worry about, and will resolve itself once the temporary cause is resolved. Long-term (chronic) insomnia is more serious, because it lasts for months or even years. It can lead to serious disruptions in a person's quality of life and overall health. The causes of chronic insomnia can be depression, bipolar disorder, and panic or anxiety disorders, all of which can make relaxation difficult. Physical health problems such as arthritis, heartburn, asthma, and other sleep disorders may contribute to insomnia. There are medications available that can effectively treat insomnia. Treatment of the underlying cause will usually lead to relief from insomnia as well.
Check out these links for more information on Insomnia:
Narcolepsy: Narcoleptics suffer from excessive sleepiness during the day. They can suffer "sleep attacks" and fall suddenly asleep briefly while in the middle of doing something. The results can range from the embarrassing (while talking) to the dangerous (while driving). Other symptoms of this disorder can include muscle weakness during periods of anger or excitement ("cataplexy"), hallucinations, temporary paralysis when falling asleep or waking up ("sleep paralysis"), and fitful and disturbed sleep. The disorder is caused by chemical abnormalities in the brain. It can run in families and may be genetically determined.
Sleep Apnea: This is a disorder where the person stops breathing for a few seconds during sleep. This can deprive the brain and body of enough oxygen, causing circulatory system problems and a lack of energy and alertness when awake. These stops in breathing can occur up to hundreds of times each night. Since the person often wakes up briefly in order to start breathing again, it can lead to lack of deep, quality sleep. The person is often not aware that they wake up, but sometimes they may wake up suddenly with the feeling that they are choking or gasping for breath. Loud snoring is often a sign of sleep apnea, which is caused by blocking of the air passages in the nose or throat. Obesity can lead to sleep apnea because fatty deposits in the neck can constrict air flow, while swollen tonsils or other parts of the throat or mouth can also be a cause. The majority of sufferers of sleep apnea are middle-aged men, while most younger people with sleep apnea have it because of swelling of their throat or tonsils.
Check out these links for more information on Sleep Apnea:
|
|