infant sleep disorders

sleep disorders

Evidence from a recent National Sleep Foundation polls shows that:

• 75% of adults questioned reported that they have frequent sleeping difficulties.



• As little as half of adults questioned reported that they normally slept quite well.



• 25% of adults questioned reported that difficulty in sleeping affected their daily lives.

The poll also showed that:

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



• People referenced sleep-related problems as the commonest reason for being late for work. Almost two thirds of working adults reported missing work, events/activities or making mistakes at work through sleep-related issues in the preceding 3 months.



• 75% of individuals polled reported a sleep problem with their partner - with snoring being the most common. Partnered adults, suffer doubly disruptive sleep problems, as one partner's sleep problem may cause the other to lose, on average, nearly an hour of sleep a night.



• 25% of individuals polled with partners report difficulties in their sexual relationship because of tiredness. They enjoy sex less often or lose interest in sex as a result of tiredness. A lot of couples sleep apart because of sleeping difficulties.

A large number of us experience the occasional sleepless night without any consequences. When, however, the occasional night now and again turns into a pattern of several nights in a row, you are facing a sleeping problem.

In addition to your wrist watch, the clock on your mantelpiece or the alarm clock beside your bed, all of which, if you're something like me, govern your life to a large extent, you also possess an internal clock which dictates the rhythm of your body.

This internal clock controls many of the functions of your body, regulating such things as temperature and the release of hormones and, above all, telling you when it's time to get up and go to sleep.

Following the pattern of day and night (light and darkness) this internal clock tracks a pattern of more or less 24 hours thereby giving your body a 24 hour rhythm or, to give it its proper title, a circadian rhythm - from the Latin circa (about) dies (a day).

Whenever you circadian rhythm is upset as a result of shift work, you may suffer from temporary sleep disorders such as excessive daytime sleepiness or transient insomnia. Left untreated, transient sleep problems associated with a change in your work schedule can become chronic and in serious cases could even require medical intervention.

Shift work also places you at greater risk of chronic cardiovascular and gastrointestinal problems. Heartburn, menstrual irregularities, indigestion, colds, flu, high blood pressure and weight gain are all encountered more amongst shift workers.

It is estimated that over 35 million individuals in America suffer from a case of chronic insomnia (problems sleeping every night or virtually all nights for at least, or in excess of, six months), with an added 20 to 30 million suffering shorter-term insomnia (problems sleeping well for a period of one to six months). In addition, many people suffer from insomnia over shorter periods (under 4 weeks) and this is commonly known as transient insomnia.

Transient insomnia is typically brought on by excitement (a surprise party for a loved one) or by stress (worry about making a speech). It also often results from long distance 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 associated with illness (colds/flu) and with some over-the-counter medications (for example, some medicines purchased for asthma or colds).

Men and women of all ages suffer from insomnia, but it is more often seen in the elderly and in women, particularly after the menopause.

Insomnia can be separated into three categories:

• "Initial" insomnia: in which you experience difficulty in falling asleep, generally taking 30 minutes or more to fall asleep.



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



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

Insomnia can frequently be only the symptom of some underlying medical conditions which could well require advice from your doctor and medical care. Here it is a matter 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 difficulty in settling into a state of relaxation necessary for sleep, then there are a number of choices for achieving healthy sleep without using prescription drugs.

Sleep apnea is among the commonest and most dangerous types of sleep disorder. Around 18 million people in America suffer from sleep apnea, which is marked by recurring episodes in which you cease breathing while sleeping. Over time this can cause high blood pressure, disordered thinking, and cardiac disease.

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

This form of the condition, named obstructive sleep apnea, is usually associated with loud snoring (though not everybody who snores suffers from this condition). Sleep apnea may also occur if the neurons that control breathing don't function properly during sleep.

During an episode of obstructive sleep apnea, efforts to inhale air will create suction that results in the collapse the windpipe. This blocks the air flow for 10 seconds to a minute while you struggle to breathe. When the level of oxygen in your blood falls, the brain reacts by awakening you sufficiently to tighten the muscles of the upper airway and open the windpipe. You may gasp or snort, then resume breathing. This cycle may be repeated hundreds of times a night.

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

If you suffer 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 frequently be overcome by dieting or by preventing yourself from sleeping on your back. You may need special devices or surgery to correct the obstruction.

In simple terms, jet lag is a common sleep disorder suffered by many millions of travelers daily. It affects both those people traveling for pleasure and on business 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 people of all ages and, in spite of the fact that it varies widely from one person to another, it tends to increase in severity the older you are.

As well, if you are already experiencing a problem sleeping, you may well find that jet lag is more of a problem.

Jet lag also increases as you cross an increasing number of time zones. If the difference in time between your point of departure and your destination is only an hour or two, then you're unlikely to experience jet lag at all. However, if the difference in time is three hours or more then jet lag will begin to appear and its effects will be more pronounced the greater 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.

You are currently viewing - infant sleep disorders

infant sleep disorders, sleep disorders