Sleep Disorder, Common Symptoms, And Types!
Sleep Disorder Symptoms and Types:
Many of us experience trouble sleeping at one time or another. Usually, it’s due to stress, travel, illness, or other temporary interruptions to your normal routine. But if sleep problems are a regular occurrence and interfere with your daily life, you may be suffering from a sleep disorder.
Sleep disorders cause more than just daytime sleepiness. They can take a serious toll on your mental and physical health, leading to memory problems, weight gain, and be impacting your energy, and mood. But you don’t have to live with a sleeping problem. There are many things you can do to get a good night’s sleep and improve your health.
What Is Sleep Disorder?
A sleep disorder is a condition that frequently impacts your ability to get enough quality sleep. While it’s normal to occasionally experience difficulties sleeping, it’s not normal to regularly have problems getting to sleep at night, to wake up feeling exhausted, or to feel sleepy during the day.
Frequently having trouble sleeping can be a frustrating and debilitating experience. You sleep badly at night which leaves you feeling dead-tired in the morning and whatever energy you have quickly drained away throughout the day.
The four most common sleep disorders are insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy. Additional sleep problems include chronic insufficient sleep, circadian rhythm abnormalities, and “parasomnias” such as sleepwalking, sleep paralysis, and night terrors.
Causes of Sleep Disorder:
If you have a constant sleep disorder, it will be the serious problem since it will affect your daily lives. Further, it is potential to cause the severe impairments in the soul and body. Sleep disorders are varied. Each has its own symptom.
Therefore, this disorder is classified into some different categorization such as parasomnias, dysomnia, and some others. Several common disorders include sleep apnea, insomnia, bruxism, snoring, and also night walking. Knowing the causes of this disorder is very necessary since the treatment is focused on the underlying cause.
A. Diseases:
The main classifications of causes of this sleeping problem include external, internal, and also disturbance of the normal circadian pattern. Mostly, this kind of disorders is associated with some other organ disease and the main factor of the internal sleep disorder’s cause. Most of the diseases are potential to cause this disorder.
B. Medical Conditions:
The medical conditions which are potential to cause the kind of disorder include the sleep-related gastroesophageal reflux, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, fibrositis syndrome, peptic ulcer, neck problems, and also back problems.
In addition, some other impairment in the brain can also cause this disorder such as neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and central apnea. Furthermore, a breathing problem such as snoring and obstructive sleep can also lead to this disorder.
C. Mental Problems:
Some other causes of this sleeping problem include the mental problems including depression, anxiety, pain attacks, paranoia, bipolar syndrome, and also schizophrenia. The chronic mental disorder will cause the severe sleep disorders.
D. Lifestyle:
Apart from the physiological and psychological effect, sleep problem can also be caused by your own lifestyle. Alcoholism and caffeine are potential to cause this disorder. For this reason, keeping a healthy lifestyle will beneficial to reduce the effect of sleep disorders on you.
The Normal Sleep Cycle:
Sleep is divided into two basic types:
- A. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
- B. and non-REM sleep (with three different stages).
Typically, sleep begins with non-REM sleep.
In Stage 1 Non-REM Sleep:
- You sleep lightly and can be awakened easily by noises or other disturbances.
- During this first stage of sleep, your eyes move slowly, your muscles relax, and your heart and breathing rates begin to slow. sleep disorder
You Then Enter Stage 2 Non-REM Sleep:
- Which is depend on slower brain waves with occasional bursts of rapid waves.
- You spend about half the night at this stage.
When you progress into stage 3 non-REM sleep: Your brain waves become even slower, and the brain produces extremely slow waves almost exclusively (Called Delta Waves).
- Stage 3 is a very deep stage of sleep, during which it is very difficult to be awakened.
- Children who wet the bed or sleepwalk tend to do so during stage 3 of non-REM sleep.
- Deep sleep is considered the “restorative” stage of sleep that is necessary for feeling well rested and energetic during the day.
Types Of Sleep:
| Non-REM Sleep | REM Sleep |
|---|---|
| Stage 1:
Light sleep; easily awakened muscles relax with occasional twitches; eye movements are slow. Stage 2: Eye movements stop; slower brain waves, with occasional bursts of rapid brain waves. Stage 3: Occurs soon after you fall asleep and mostly in the first half of the night. Deep sleep; dif cult to awaken; large slow brain waves, heart and respiratory rates are slow and muscles are relaxed. |
|
Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Disorder:
Look over this list of common signs of a sleep disorder, and talk to your doctor if you have any of them on three or more nights a week: sleep disorder
- It takes you more than 30 minutes to fall asleep at night.
- You awaken frequently in the night and then have trouble.
- falling back to sleep again.
You:
- Awaken too early in the morning.
- Often don’t feel well rested despite spending 7–8 hours or more asleep at night.
- Feel sleepy during the day and fall asleep within 5 minutes if you have an opportunity to nap, or you fall asleep unexpectedly or at inappropriate times during the day.
- Bed partner claims you snore loudly, snort, gasp, or make choking sounds while you sleep, or your partner notices that your breathing stops for short periods.
Have Creeping,
- Tingling, or crawling feelings in your legs that are relieved by moving or massaging them, especially in the evening and when you try to fall asleep.
- Have vivid, dreamlike experiences while falling asleep or dozing.
- And have episodes of sudden muscle weakness when you are angry or fearful, or when you laugh.
- Feel as though you cannot move when you first wake up.
- Bed partner notes that your legs or arms jerk often during sleep.
- Regularly need to use stimulants to stay awake during the day.
Also keep in mind that, although children can show some of these signs of a sleep disorder, they often do not show signs of excessive daytime sleepiness. Instead, they may seem overactive and have dif culty focusing and concentrating. They also may not do their best in school.
Common Sleep Disorders Types:
The four most common sleep disorders are:
- Insomnia.
- Sleep apnea.
- Restless legs syndrome.
- Narcolepsy.
- Snoring.
- REM sleep behavior disorder.
- Sleep Paralysis.
- Jet Lag.
- Circadian rhythm sleep disorder.
- Delayed sleep-phase syndrome.
Additional sleep problems include chronic insufficient sleep, circadian rhythm abnormalities, and “parasomnias” such as sleepwalking, sleep paralysis and night terrors. sleep disorder
1. Insomnia:
Insomnia is defined as having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or as having unrefreshing sleep despite having ample opportunity to sleep. Life is filled with events that occasionally cause insomnia for a short time. Such temporary insomnia is common and is often brought on by situations such as stress at work, family pressures, or a traumatic event. sleep disorder
Chronic insomnia is defined as having symptoms at least 3 nights per week for more than 1 month. Most cases of chronic insomnia are secondary, which means they are due to another disorder or medications.
Primary chronic insomnia is a distinct sleep disorder; its cause is not yet well understood. (Read more about Insomnia Cure).
2. Sleep Apnea:
Sleep apnea In people who have sleep apnea (also referred to as sleep-disordered breathing), breathing brie y stops or becomes very shallow during sleep. This change is caused by the intermittent blocking of the upper airway.
Usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and partially or completely closes the airway. Each pause in breathing typically lasts 10–120 seconds and may occur 20–30 times or more each sleeping hour.
If You Have Sleep Apnea,
- not enough air can ow into your lungs through your mouth and nose during sleep, even though breathing efforts continue.
- When this happens, the amount of oxygen in your blood decreases.
- Your brain responds by awakening you enough to tighten the upper airway muscles and open your windpipe.
- Normal breaths then start again, often with a loud snort or choking sound.
Although people who have sleep apnea typically snore loudly and frequently, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. (Read more about sleep apnea, signs, causes, treatments)
3. Restless Legs Syndrome “RLS”:
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) causes an unpleasant prickling or tingling in the legs, especially in the calves, that is relieved by moving or massaging them. People who have RLS feel a need to stretch or move their legs to get rid of the uncomfortable or painful feelings.
As a Result,
it may be dif cult to fall asleep and stay asleep. One or both legs may be affected. Some people also feel the sensations in their arms. These sensations also can occur when lying down or sitting for long periods of time, such as while at a desk, riding in a car, or watching a movie.
- Many people who have RLS also have brief limb movements during sleep, often with abrupt onset, occurring every 5-90 seconds.
- This condition, known as periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS), can repeatedly awaken people who have RLS, reducing their total sleep time and interrupting their sleep.
- Some people have PLMS but have no abnormal sensations in their legs while awake.
4. Narcolepsy:
Narcolepsy’s main symptom is extreme and overwhelming daytime sleepiness, even after adequate nighttime sleep. In addition, nighttime sleep may be fragmented by frequent awakenings. People who have narcolepsy often fall asleep at inappropriate times and places.
Although TV sitcoms occasionally feature these individuals to generate a few laughs, narcolepsy is no laughing matter. People who have narcolepsy experience daytime “sleep attacks” that last from seconds to more than one-half hour, can occur without warning and may cause injury.
These embarrassing sleep spells also can make it dif cult to work and to maintain normal personal or social relationships. In addition to overwhelming daytime sleepiness, narcolepsy has three other commonly associated symptoms, but these may not occur in all people:
Some Symptoms:
1. Sudden Muscle Weakness (Cataplexy):
This weakness is similar to the paralysis that normally occurs during REM sleep, but it lasts a few seconds to minutes while an individual is awake.
2. Sleep Paralysis:
People who have narcolepsy may experience a temporary inability to talk or move when falling asleep or waking up as if they were glued to their beds.
3. Vivid Dreams:
- These dreams can occur when people who have narcolepsy first fall asleep or wake up.
- The dreams are so lifelike that they can be confused with reality.
- Narcolepsy can be difficult to diagnose in people who have only the symptom of excessive daytime sleepiness.
- It is usually diagnosed during an overnight sleep recording (PSG) that is followed by an MSLT.
5. Snoring:
Snoring, which is often confused with sleep apnea, could be a major barrier to quality sleep both for yourself and your better half. It is due to a narrowing of your airway, either from poor sleep posture, excess weight or physical disorders of your throat. A narrow airway gets in the way of smooth respiring and creates the sound of snoring.
There are many self-help cures and cures for snoring. If you’re a mild snorer, sleeping on your side, raising the head of your bed, or shedding weight may stop the snoring. Do not give up attempting to find a solution for your snoring it’ll make you and your better half sleep sounder.
6. REM Sleep Behavior Disorder:
REM sleep behavior disorder causes interruptions in the brain during REM sleep. During REM ( i.e, the dream part of sleep ), an area of the brainstem called the pons sends signals to the cerebral cortex, which is the area of the brain answerable for thinking and organizing info. The pons also sends signals to muscles in the body during REM, causing a kind of brief paralysis.
In somebody with REM sleep behavior disorder, these signals transliterate into pictures that make up dreams. If the signals are meddled with, the individual may physically act out dreams while sleeping. Cataplexy is weakness or paralysis of the muscles. In narcoleptic patients, it could be caused by exhaustion and intense emotions and can be accompanied by short, sudden episodes of laughter or outrage. When cataplexy happens, people who are standing may fall down.
7. Jet Lag:
Jet lag is a physiological condition which is a consequence of modifications to circadian rhythms; it is assessed as one of the circadian rhythm sleep disorders.
8. Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder:
Examples include jet lag and shift work sleep disorder. Sufferers aren’t able to wake and sleep in the standard routines needed to function in standard work, college and social settings.
9. Delayed Sleep-phase Syndrome:
Delayed sleep phase syndrome is a circadian rhythm sleep problem, a protracted disorder chronic disorder of the timing of sleep, the top period of alertness, core body temperature, hormonal and other daily rhythms relative to societal norms.
Helpful Tips For Sleep Disorders:
- I. Improve your daytime habits:
Regardless of your sleep problems, sticking to a consistent sleep schedule, getting regular exercise, limiting your intake of caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine, and managing stress will translate into a better sleep over the long term.
- II. Develop a relaxing bedtime routine to prepare your mind and body for sleep:
Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, and cool, avoid heavy meals and too many fluids late at night, take a warm bath, read, or listen to soothing music to unwind, and turn off screens at least one hour before bedtime.
- III. Get back to sleep when you wake up at night:
Whether you have a sleep disorder or not, it’s normal to wake briefly during the night. If you’re having trouble getting back to sleep, try focusing on your breathing, meditating, or practicing another relaxation technique.
Make a note of anything that’s worrying you and resolve to postpone worrying about it until the next day when it will be easier to resolve.
If you find this article useful, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family, as you might help someone in need. Thanks.
Disclaimer: “Nothing in this article makes any claim to offer cures or treatment of any disease or illness. If you are sick please consult with your doctor.”
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