Common Sleep Disorders: Insomnia, Sleep Apnea, Restless Legs Syndrome and more
Did you know that around 30% of American adults experience symptoms of insomnia and sleep apnea affects 38% of the general population? Sleep disorders affect nearly 70 million people worldwide. There are more than 100 types of sleep disorders, however, only a few types affect the majority of the population. Learn about the common sleep disorders in this article. Visit the best Mental Health Clinic in Brooklyn at Doral Health & Wellness or log on to www.doralhw.org
Sleep and sleep disorders
Sleep is a complex biological process, it allows you to become unconscious, but your brain and body functions are still active. They work to keep you healthy and function at your best. When you don’t get enough quality sleep you feel tired and it also affects your physical and mental health, thinking, and daily functioning.
Now, if you experience certain conditions that affect your sleep quality, timing, or duration and affect your ability to work properly while you’re awake, then it is known as a sleep disorder. These disorders can lead to other medical problems or may be a sign of other underlying mental health issues.
More than 100 specific sleep disorders have been identified and classified based on causes, symptoms, physiological and psychological effects, and other criteria. However, most sleep disorders can be characterized by one or more of these signs:
- You have trouble falling asleep or remaining asleep.
- You find it difficult to stay awake and work properly during the day.
- It imbalances your circadian rhythm, a natural healthy sleep cycle that helps you sleep and wake up on time.
- You are more prone to behaviors that disrupt your sleep.
If you have any of these signs, then you should consult with your doctor to get a proper diagnosis and treatment for your sleep problems.
Common sleep disorders
While there are more than 100 types of sleep disorders, these are the types that affect people commonly:
- Insomnia:
This is one of the most common sleeping disorders that affect your ability to fall asleep (or maintain it) despite how much you try to sleep. People with this sleep disorder may experience daytime sleepiness and struggle to work properly while they are awake. It may also occur in the form of early morning awakening when an individual awakens several hours early and is unable to sleep again. It also increases the chance of excessive daytime sleepiness, which results in functional impairment throughout the day.
When you are about to get a diagnosis of insomnia, the healthcare provider may rule out other potential causes, such as sleep disorders, side effects of medications, substance abuse, depression, and other previously undetected illnesses. If you are diagnosed with chronic insomnia, then your symptoms may happen at least 3 times per week or are present for at least 3 months.
Individuals with chronic insomnia can sleep better without their beds. For treatment, doctors prescribe them a combination of sedative-hypnotic or sedating antidepressant medications along with behavioral techniques to promote regular sleep.
- Sleep apnea:
Sleep apnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder that disrupts breathing at night. Snoring is the most common sign of sleep apnea. A person with sleep apnea may make periodic gasping or snorting noises while their sleep is momentarily interrupted. Due to sleep apnea, you may experience excessive daytime sleepiness.
Sleep apnea treatment is based on its cause. In case other medical problems like congestive heart failure or nasal obstruction are present, treating those conditions can improve sleep apnea. Gentle air pressure during sleep is also found to be effective in treating sleep apnea. As interruption in regular breathing or obstruction of the airway during sleep can pose serious health issues, that’s why you shouldn’t take sleep apnea lightly. Get treatment when you notice its symptoms.
- Restless legs syndrome (RLS):
RLS can cause unpleasant feelings like tingling or someone/something crawling up your lower legs, this creates an irresistible urge to move your legs. It often causes difficulty in initiating sleep and is relieved only by moving the leg such as walking or kicking. Abnormalities in the neurotransmitter dopamine are linked with RLS. RLS is also linked with pregnancy, Parkinson’s disease, iron deficiency, and other factors, but the cause of RLS is unknown. It is usually treated with medication that corrects the underlying dopamine abnormality along with a medicine to promote sleep continuity.
- Narcolepsy:
This sleep disorder makes you feel excessively tired during the day despite getting enough sleep. It causes an irrepressible urge to sleep and culminates in sleep attacks which last for a few minutes. Excessive daytime sleepiness with sudden muscle weakness is the most common sign. The sudden muscle weakness may be caused by strong emotion or surprise. Sleep attacks and other symptoms are caused by disruptions in the brain’s ability to regulate the sleep-wake cycle.
For treatment, your doctor may prescribe stimulant medications along with behavioral interventions, such as regularly scheduled naps, to reduce the potential disruptiveness of narcolepsy in the person’s life.
- Parasomnias:
This is a group of unusual sleep behaviors that happen before falling asleep, during sleep, and in the transition between sleep and wakefulness. It is commonly found in children; however, it also affects adults as well. It includes sleepwalking, bedwetting, night terrors, and more severe ones like exploding head syndrome. To treat parasomnia, your doctor may prescribe benzodiazepines or tricyclic antidepressants along with relaxation therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy to improve your symptoms.
Sleep disorders can affect your overall quality of life because they disrupt your thinking, work ability, mental and physical health. While there are more than 100 sleep disorders, the common ones are mentioned above. If you are struggling with your sleep on a regular basis, then you shouldn’t hesitate to see a healthcare provider for treatment to improve your sleep quality
If you need help with sleeping problems, visit our behavioral health clinic in East New York to get professional medical help. Book your appointment with the best mental health professionals in Brooklyn where doctors and staff ensure you get the best results. Call us on +1-347-384-5690 to get a consultation. If you need help learning coping methods, register your information and make direct contact with our doctors and psychiatrists to learn those methods, log on to www.doralhw.org. Visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212.