Your Guide to Sleep Disorders

Sleep is not just a basic human need; it is critical for your overall well-being. But, sometimes, getting a good night's sleep is easier said than done.

The consequences of not getting enough sleep can go beyond feeling tired throughout the day. Prolonged disturbances in sleep can affect your physical and mental health, keeping you from achieving your goals or fuelling unhealthy habits.

If you’ve been struggling to understand why you aren’t getting enough rest, you may find this article useful.

Also read: The Need for Quality of Sleep

What are sleep disorders?

People may struggle to fall asleep from time to time, but consistent difficulty in falling or staying asleep can indicate deeper issues, such as sleep disorders.

Sleep disorders (also called sleep-wake disorders) are a group of health conditions that can impair an individual's sleep pattern, quality, and timing. Naturally, these disorders contribute to poor sleeping patterns which can worsen signs of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. At the same time, it can also be a symptom of underlying health issues or psychological problems.

Also read: How Important is Self-care to Your Overall Mental Health?

Common Sleep Disorders

Although sleep disorders can develop at any age, they usually begin in early adulthood. Lifestyle changes such as increased work or school stress can severely impact one’s sleep quality, duration, and sleep cycle. Among the several types of sleep disorders, the most common ones are:

Insomnia

The most common sleep disorder is insomnia, where individuals have recurring trouble falling or staying asleep. Individuals with insomnia often experience drowsiness and cognitive impairments, like forgetting things easily, when awake.

Insomnia can be of two types: acute or chronic. Acute insomnia is short-term and is generally caused by specific situations, such as jet lag. Chronic insomnia is long-term, where symptoms occur at least three times a day for at least three months.

Also read : Maintaining Good Sleep Hygiene

Sleep Apnoea

An individual with sleep apnoea experiences abnormal breathing patterns when asleep. While asleep, their breathing stops temporarily, causing them to wake up repeatedly throughout the night. Although individuals may not remember these frequent awakenings the next day, they can still feel restless, irritable, and drowsy throughout the day due to poor sleep quality.

Sleep apnoea is treatable, but can be significantly dangerous in some cases. Prolonged and unchecked sleep apnoea can contribute to signs of depression and worsen existing mental health conditions. If you feel that you may be struggling with this condition, it is best to seek medical help right away.

Narcolepsy

It is natural to feel sleepy or drowsy during the day at times, but what happens when you cannot control your urge to fall asleep? Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder which can affect an individual's ability to regulate their sleep and control wakefulness. 

Individuals with narcolepsy can experience 'sleep attacks' at any point throughout the day, no matter what they are doing. Although sleep attacks last for only a few minutes, over time they can interfere with your quality of sleep at night.

Also read : How to Sleep Better

Restless Leg Syndrome

As the name suggests, this sleep disorder involves an uncontrollable urge to move one's leg while an individual is resting or lying down. Usually, these urges are due to an itchy, tingling, or other uncomfortable sensation in the leg.

Unfortunately, these sensations tend to be stronger when one is inactive, which makes falling or staying asleep more challenging. As a result, an individual's quality and duration of sleep are negatively impacted.

Excessive Sleepiness

Intense grogginess during the day is also known as excessive sleepiness. Although individuals are still in control of when they fall asleep, extreme drowsiness leads to them trying to sleep whenever possible. Those experiencing excessive sleepiness during the day tend to be prone to accidents, forgetfulness, and errors.

Also read: Why You Shouldn't Ignore Sleep And Exercise

Treatment for sleep disorders varies based on the condition. In most cases, a lifestyle change is recommended. Practising healthy self-care habits such as good sleep hygiene, exercising regularly and creating certain dietary changes can encourage a good night's sleep. However, medication and psychotherapy may be necessary to help you recognise specific thoughts and behaviours that may be keeping you awake at night.

Sources:

1. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/sleep-disorders/what-are-sleep-disorders

2. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-disorders

3. https://medlineplus.gov/sleepdisorders.html

4. https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_sleep/key_disorders.html