definition of sleep disorders

sleep disorders

A recent poll carried out for the National Sleep Foundation found that:

• Three quarters of people polled said that they frequently experience difficulty in sleeping.



• As little as 50% of people polled said that they normally slept without problem.



• 25% of people polled said that sleep problems impacted upon their daily lives.

The poll also demonstrated that:

• 60% of adult motorists reported driving while drowsy in the previous year. (4 % reported having an accident or near-accident because of tiredness or falling asleep while they were driving.)



• People named sleep-related problems as the usual reason for being late for work. Almost 30% of working adults reported missing work, events/activities or making mistakes at work as a result of sleep-related problems in the previous 3 months.



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



• 25% of people questioned with partners report problems in their sexual relationship as a result of tiredness. They enjoy sex less often or lose interest in sex because of tiredness. Many couples sleep apart because of sleeping difficulties.

A significant number of people have the occasional 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 looking at a sleeping problem.

It is thought that over 35 million Americans have a case of chronic insomnia (problems sleeping each night or on the majority of nights for a period of more than six months), with a further 20 to 30 million adults suffering shorter-term insomnia (problems sleeping well for a period of one to six months). Further, a significant number of people suffer from insomnia over shorter periods (less than 4 weeks) and this is usually referred to as transient insomnia.

Transient insomnia is normally brought on by excitement (a child looking forward to an outing) or by stress (worry about making a speech). It also often results from air travel (jet lag) and can be seen in those who take exercise late in the day, shortly before going to bed. It is also often linked to illness (colds/flu) and with a few over-the-counter medications (for example, some medicines bought for asthma or a cold).

Women and men of all ages suffer from insomnia, but it is more common in the elderly and in women, especially after the menopause.

Insomnia can be split into three classes:

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



• "Middle" insomnia: in which, having fallen asleep, you have problems maintaining a state of sleep and commonly remain awake into the early morning hours.



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

Insomnia can sometimes be just the symptom of some underlying medical conditions that could well require advice from your doctor and medical care. Here it is a case of treating the underlying medical problem, rather than the insomnia.

If, however, your insomnia results from a pattern of not sleeping, or your body and mind find it difficult to settle into a sufficiently relaxed state for sleep, then there are several different choices for achieving healthy sleep without the need to use prescription drugs.

At its simplest, jet lag is a common sleep disorder endured by millions of travelers daily. It affects both those traveling on business and on vacation and, in a recent survey of international business travelers, 3/4 of those questioned said that they often suffered from jet lag.

Jet lag affects individuals of all ages and, although it varies widely from one individual to another, it tends to become more severe the older you are.

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

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

Finally, jet lag symptoms do not always appear at once and, for some people, it could be two or three days before it hits.

Sleep apnea is among the most common and most dangerous sleep disorders. About 18 million individuals in the USA suffer from sleep apnea, which is marked by recurring episodes in which you cease breathing during sleep. In time this can lead to cardiac disease, high blood pressure, and disordered thinking.

Usually linked with aging, sleep apnea can occur together with fat buildup or loss of muscle tone. These changes cause a collapse in the windpipe while breathing As muscles relax during sleep.

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

During obstructive sleep apnea, efforts to inhale air will create suction which collapses the windpipe. This, in turn, blocks the air flow for anything from about ten seconds up to a minute while you struggle to breathe. When the level of oxygen in your blood falls, the brain reacts by waking you sufficiently to tighten the muscles of the upper airway and open the windpipe. You may snort or gasp, then resume breathing. This cycle may be repeated hundreds of times a night.

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

If you are suffering from from severe, untreated sleep apnea you are also two to three times more likely to have automobile accidents than the general population.

Mild sleep apnea can commonly be overcome by loosing weight or by preventing yourself from sleeping on your back. You might also require special devices or surgery to clear the obstruction.

Narcolepsy affects approximately 250,000 people in America. Individuals with narcolepsy get frequent "sleep attacks" in the day, even when they experience a normal amount of night-time sleep. Such "sleep attacks" can last anywhere from just a few seconds to in excess of half an hour.

Individuals with narcolepsy might also experience cataplexy (a loss of muscle control during an emotional situation), hallucinations, temporary paralysis when they awaken, and interrupted night-time sleep. These symptoms are features of REM sleep which appear during waking, suggesting that narcolepsy is a disorder of sleep regulation.

The symptoms of narcolepsy often appear in adolescence, although it often takes years to obtain a correct diagnosis.

The disorder (or a predisposition to it) is normally hereditary, but it is occasionally linked to brain damage from a head injury or to neurological disease.

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

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