Sleep plays a very vital role in our everyday lives. It is critical for our health, not only mentally but physically as well. It also plays an important role in our safety in our day to day life. Unfortunately, many people around the world suffer from some sort of sleeping disorder that prevents these things and in return, a person’s health suffers. Statistic state that, “59% of Americans get 7 or more hours of sleep at night, while 40% get less than 7 hours. In 1942, 84% met the standard of getting 7-9 hours per night of sleep. (Taylor).
A sleeping disorder is a change in a person’s sleeping pattern that is often affected on a regular basis. Some types of common disorders are, sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy, shift work disorder, and also periodic limb movement. Fortunately, there are ways to help an individual’s sleep pattern. They range from medical treatments, lifestyle changes, and also therapy as well.
Sleep is defined as a naturally occurring state when our consciousness and awareness is reduced along with one’s muscle activity. There are two stages of sleep, defined as REM and non-REM and each has different stages. Non-Rem sleep has 4 stages, with 1-2 being light sleep and 3-4 being a deep sleep. In stages 1-2 is when your muscles relax and begins the transition into a deeper sleep in stages 3-4. When an individual has a sleeping disorder, they are unable to enter into the different sleeping stages which in return causes things such as tiredness, depression, health issues, and trouble performing daily activities. There are about 80 different types of sleeping disorders with over 70 million Americans suffering from some form of one.
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Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleeping disorders and is characterized by loud snoring and feeling very tired during the day. The reason for this is the individuals breathing stops and starts continuously throughout the night. It is a very serious disorder, and there are two different types that it is categorized into. The first is obstructive sleep apnea, which is the most common of the two.
This one is caused by a blockage in one’s airway, which then causes the tissue in the back of your throat to collapse while asleep. This is caused by the muscles in the throat becoming relaxed and narrowing which then causes the oxygen intake to become lower. The next one is called central sleep apnea, which is caused by the brain not signaling your airway muscles to breathe. You may awake with shortness of breath due to not breathing for small periods of time.
The American College of Cardiology states that, “Sleep has multiple pronounced effects on the respiratory system and control of breathing. Experimental studies in instrumented cats have shown decreased electrical activity in medullary inspiratory neurons with efferent output to the upper and lower respiratory muscles, reflected in decreased activity of diaphragm and dilator muscles of the upper airway (also observed in human studies).(Javaheri).”
This demonstrates how the breathing is affected in a person suffering from sleep apnea, and how it causes their airway muscles to become relaxed. There are certain factors that increase a person’s risk for having sleep apnea, such as an individual’s weight, having a narrowed airway, being a male, and also being older in age. One of the most common ways for health professionals to diagnose sleep apnea is by doing a nocturnal polysomnography. During this test the individual is hooked up to a monitor that monitors the heart, lung, and brain activity and also the individual’s oxygen levels while asleep.
Another sleep disorder that is very common is known as insomnia. This is a disorder that affects an individual’s ability to fall asleep and being able to stay asleep. This condition can be either short term or long term and may come and go at different times. Many symptoms associated with insomnia include, mood swings, fatigue, difficulty concentrating while awake, and having low energy levels. There are several causes associated with this type of disorder, such as anxiety, stress, medications, shift work, and also mental health issues like depression.
Doctor Thomas Roth states that, “The most common comorbidities associated with insomnia are psychiatric disorders. It is estimated that 40% of all insomnia patients have a coexisting psychiatric condition. Among these psychiatric disorders, depression is the most common, and insomnia is a diagnostic symptom for depressive and anxiety disorders.” (Roth). This shows how an individual’s mental health can suffer strongly due to struggling with insomnia.
This disorder may be diagnosed by seeing a physician and keeping track of the nights you struggle to fall asleep and stay asleep. It can be treated with sleep training, which may include diet. Such as staying away from caffeinated beverages, and staying away from electronics before bed as well. It can also be treated with certain medications by a health professional.
Narcolepsy is another chronic sleep disorder, however this one is characterized by falling asleep during the daytime hours and struggling to stay awake for long periods of time. Some individuals may also experience sleep paralysis, which is the temporary ability to move or speak when you awake. Individuals may also experience hallucinations which feel like a dream in which the visions may seem real. People with narcolepsy find it difficult to stay awake in the daytime hours and may affect their regular activities such as driving, eating, and socializing with others.
Symptoms often include excessive tiredness during the day and also a condition known as cataplexy. This is the sudden loss of one’s muscles that often leads to weakness and also an individual’s ability to control their muscles. Health professionals have found several factors that are associated with this sleep disorder such as brain injuries, family history, and also autoimmune disorders. There are 2 common tests used to diagnose this disorder, the first is the polysomnogram and the other is called the multiple sleep latency test. This one measure a person’s daytime sleepiness and how quickly the individual falls asleep.
The next sleeping disorder is most common in people who work shifts, such as night shifts, rotating shifts, and early morning shifts. It is called shift work disorder. Common symptoms of this disorder are insomnia and also excessive tiredness. It mainly affects people who work outside the typical working schedule. The reason it causes this sleep disorder is when you work during the hours your body typically sleeps, you are working against your bodies internal clock and circadian rhythms.
Your circadian rhythm is your internal clock that tells you when you should be asleep and when you should be awake and alert. There are several different workers that experience this type of sleeping disorder such as firefighters, police officers, doctors, nurses, paramedics, and cleaning staff. James Mcintosh says that, “According to an article published in 2000 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), over 15 million (16.8 %) full-time wage and salary workers are employed working alternative shifts.
Of these, the most common alternative shifts are evening shifts, with working hours usually between 2 pm and midnight, and irregular shifts with a constantly changing schedule.” (Mcintosh). The downfall to this is it can affect one’s ability to work and concentrate and affect their day to day lives. It is usually diagnosed by a health care provider doing sleep study tests and asking the individual to keep a log of their sleep schedules. There are some ways to treat this such as keeping a regular sleep schedule and minimizing sunlight after a shift. Also limiting one’s caffeine intake and eating a healthy diet.
Another common sleeping disorder is restless leg syndrome. People who experience this often have an uncontrollable urge to move their legs. This urge is due to an uncomfortable sensation felt in the legs and by moving them it may temporarily ease the sensation of discomfort. This often affects someone’s sleep because the symptoms are brought on by resting or lying down, often making it difficult for one to fall asleep. It is often worse in the evenings, and may also be associated with another sleeping disorder called periodic limb movement.
This causes your legs to twitch and make jerking movements while you are asleep. The sensations often associated with this are describes as crawling, pulling, throbbing, and also aching. This disorder can be hereditary, a possible imbalance of brain chemicals, and also could be caused by pregnancy. It is often treated with leg massages, warm baths, and heat and ice packs.
The last sleeping disorder I am going to discuss is called periodic limb movement. I mentioned it above as it is common in restless leg syndrome as well. This is when an individual involuntarily moves their limbs in their sleep and experiences cramping of their legs as well. These movements usually occur every 20-40 seconds and are repetitive. They can last anywhere from only to a few minutes, and up to a few hours. Most people who suffer from this are actually not even aware that it is occurring. It mainly occurs in the legs but it can also happen in the upper arms as well. Patients who suffer from this often suffer from fatigue, short attention span, and also could suffer from depression.
Jayne Leonard states that, “Primary PLMD may be chronic in nature, meaning people with the condition will have it for life. However, they often experience periods of remission where symptoms cease, although relapses can occur from time to time.” (Leonard). It is usually diagnosed with an overnight polysomnogram and also by a physical exam. Treatments include medications, avoiding caffeine, and also reducing an individual’s stress levels. Another underlying cause could also be having an iron deficiency. By taking an iron supplement and increasing your iron food intake it may help to reduce these symptoms as well.
Many people today suffer from a sleeping disorder, causing it to not only affect their day to day lives but also their health as well. When you are asleep you body works to maintain healthy brain activity and also help maintain good physical health as well. When an individual is deprived of this, it can cause depression, heart failure, stroke, weakened immune system, and also weight gain. Most healthy adults should be getting between 7-9 hours of sleep each night. By achieving this goal, it helps to maintain good memory, mood boosts, and also a healthy heart. Although scientists still have not proven exactly why sleep is so vital, they have definitely seen the critical roll it plays in our day and the effects it has on one’s wellbeing.
