american sleep disorders association asda

sleep disorders

The publication of a recently conducted National Sleep Foundation polls reveals that:

• 3 out of 4 of those polled reported that they often have difficulty sleeping.



• Only 1 out of 2 of those polled reported that they slept without difficulty on most nights.



• A quarter of those polled reported that sleep problems had an impact upon their daily lives.

The poll also revealed that:

• Just under two thirds of adult motorists said that they had driven while drowsy in the past twelve months. (4 % reported having an accident or near-accident as a result of tiredness or actually falling asleep while they were driving.)



• Those polled referenced sleep-related problems as the most common reason for being late for work. Almost 1 in 3 of working adults reported missing work, events/activities or making mistakes at work through sleep-related problems in the past three months.



• 75% of people questioned reported a sleep problem with their partner - snoring being the most usual. Partnered adults, suffer doubly disruptive sleep difficulties, as one partner's sleep difficulty can cause the other to lose, on average, about an hour of sleep nightly.



• 25% of people questioned with partners report troubles in their sexual relationship because of tiredness. They enjoy sex less frequently or lose interest in having sex because of tiredness. Numerous couples sleep separately because of a sleep problem.

A large number of us suffer from the odd night of sleeplessness without any consequences. If, however, the occasional night once in a while turns into a pattern of several nights in a row, you are facing a sleeping problem.

Narcolepsy affects around 250,000 people in America. Individuals with narcolepsy have frequent "sleep attacks" during the day, even if they enjoy a normal amount of night-time sleep. Such "sleep attacks" can last anywhere from just a few seconds to more than half an hour.

People with narcolepsy can also experience cataplexy (loss of muscle control during an emotional situation), hallucinations, temporary paralysis when they wake up, and interrupted night-time sleep. These symptoms seem to be features of REM sleep which appear during waking, suggesting that narcolepsy is a disorder of sleep regulation.

Narcolepsy symptoms commonly appear in adolescence, though it commonly takes years to get a correct diagnosis.

The disorder (or at least a predisposition for it) is ordinarily hereditary, but it is now and then linked to brain damage from a head injury or to neurological disease.

Once diagnosed, stimulants, antidepressants, or other drugs can help control the symptoms and prevent the embarrassing and dangerous effects of falling asleep at improper times. Naps at certain times of the day may also reduce the excessive daytime sleepiness.

Simply put, jet lag is an extremely common sleep disorder endured by many millions of travelers each day. It affects both people traveling on business and on holiday and, according to a recent survey of international business travelers, three quarters of those questioned said that they suffered frequently from jet lag.

Jet lag affects individuals of all ages and, in spite of the fact that it varies widely from person to person, it tends to become more severe the older you get.

As well, if you already have a problem sleeping, you might well find that jet lag is more of a problem.

Jet lag also increases as you cross a growing number of time zones. If the difference in time between your departure point and your destination is simply an hour or two, then it's possible that you won't experience jet lag at all. But, if the time difference is three hours or more then jet lag will begin to appear and its effects will be more pronounced the bigger the time difference.

Finally, the symptoms of jet lag don't always appear instantly and, for some people, it may well be a couple of days before it hits.

Sleep apnea is among the most common and most dangerous sleep disorders. An estimated 18 million individuals in the US suffer from this condition, that is characterised by recurring episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep. Over time this can produce high blood pressure, cardiac disease, and disordered thinking.

Usually connected with increasing age, sleep apnea can occur together with fat buildup or loss of muscle tone. These changes permit a collapse in the windpipe while breathing Whenever muscles relax during sleep.

This form of the condition, referred to as obstructive sleep apnea, is ordinarily connected to loud snoring (though not everybody who snores has this condition). Sleep apnea can also occur if the neurons responsible for the control of breathing don't function properly during sleep.

During an episode of obstructive sleep apnea, attempts to inhale air will create suction that results in the collapse the windpipe. This, in turn, blocks the air flow for between ten seconds and one minute while you struggle to breathe. When your blood oxygen level falls, the brain responds by waking you enough to tighten the upper airway muscles and open the windpipe. You may snort or gasp, then resume breathing. This cycle may be repeated hundreds of times a night.

The constant awakenings that you experience as a sleep apnea sufferer leave you feeling permanently fatigued and may lead to changes in personality such as depression and irritability. Sleep apnea also deprives you of oxygen, which could lead to morning headaches, a loss of interest in sex, or a decline in mental functioning. High blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, and a raised risk of heart attacks and stroke also Typically arise in cases of sleep apnea.

If you have from severe, untreated sleep apnea you are also 2 to 3 times more likely to be involved in an automoblie accident than the general population.

Mild sleep apnea can frequently be overcome by loosing weight or by preventing yourself from sleeping on your back. You might need a special device or surgery to correct the obstruction.

It is judged that in excess of 35 million adults in the US suffer from chronic insomnia (problems sleeping each night or virtually all nights for a period of more than six months), with an additional 20 to 30 million suffering shorter-term insomnia (problems sleeping well for a period of a month to six months). In addition, many people suffer from insomnia over shorter periods (less than 4 weeks) and this is typically referred to as transient insomnia.

Transient insomnia is typically brought on by excitement (a child anticipating the arrival of Father Christmas) or by stress (worry about making a speech). It also often results from air travel (jet lag) and can be seen in individuals who take exercise late in the day, shortly before going to bed. It is also often connected to illness (colds/flu) and with a few over-the-counter medications (for example, some medicines purchased for colds or asthma).

Men and women of all ages experience insomnia, although it is more frequently seen in the elderly and in women, particularly after the menopause.

Insomnia can be split into three classes:

• "Initial" insomnia: where you have problems in falling asleep, invariably taking 30 minutes or more to fall asleep.



• "Middle" insomnia: where, after falling asleep, you have difficulties maintaining a state of sleep and commonly stay awake until the early hours of the morning.



• "Late" or "Terminal" insomnia: where you wake up early in the morning after less than 6 hours of sleep.

Insomnia can often be merely the symptom of some underlying medical conditions which might require a visit to your doctor and medical care. Here it will be a matter of treating the underlying medical problem, rather than the insomnia.

If, however, your inability to sleep results from a pattern of not sleeping, or your mind and body find difficulty in settling into a state of relaxation necessary for sleep, then there are several choices for achieving healthy sleep without turning to prescription drugs.

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