Can’t sleep? Listen to the advises of ‘The Better Sleep Council’
There are several sleep disorder cases. These are mainly insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, narcolepsy, sleepwalking, etc. Sleeping too much is also a disorder. “The Better Sleep Council” publishes some good information about all these. Excerpts:
INSOMNIA
You’re not alone unfortunately. It’s estimated that 30-50% of the world’s population is left tossing and turning at night, unable to get a quality night’s rest.
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling and/or staying asleep. People with insomnia have one or more of the following symptoms:
* Difficulty falling asleep
* Waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep
* Waking up too early in the morning
*! Feeling tired upon waking
Studies show that relaxation training, stimulus control, and other cognitive-behavioral treatments are most effective for eliminating a majority of insomnia-related problems. Before you turn to pills, take a look at your sleep environment. Is your room cool, quiet, comfortable and free of distractions? Is your mattress less seven years old?
If you’ve looked at all these variables and you’re still not able to get quality rest, it is recommended that you discuss your options with a health care provider who has expertise in sleep disorders medicine, particularly insomnia. Sleeping medications may be recommended when sleep difficulties interfere with daily activities, when insomnia is temporary or acute, when insomnia-like symptoms occur in association with a diagnosed medical condition, and/or when cognitive-behavioral approaches are ineffective.
SLEEP APNEA
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that can affect anyone at any age, and occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times, which means the brain and body may not get enough oxygen. There are different types of sleep apena and a variety of treatments used in caring for sleep apnea, based upon the type and severity.
The sleep apnea types:
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): The more common of the two forms of apnea, it is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep.
Central sleep apnea: Unlike OSA, the airway is not blocked but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe due to instability in the respiratory control center.
Sleep apnea treatments:
Based on what your doctor prescribes, there are a few treatment options for those with sleep apnea. If you have a mild case of sleep apnea, all you may need to do is to:
* Lose weight
* Avoid alcohol and sleeping pills
* Change sleep positions to promote regular breathing
* Quit smoking
* Avoid sleeping on your back
For those with a more serious case of apnea, it may be necessary to use a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine while you sleep.
This sleep apnea machine consists of a mask, which is worn over the nose and/or mouth while you sleep. The mask is hooked up to a machine that delivers a continuous flow of air into the nostrils. The positive pressure from air flowing into the nostrils helps keep the airways open so that breathing is not impaired. CPAP is considered by many experts to be the most effective treatment for sleep apnea.
Dental Devices
Dental devices can be made that help keep the airway open during sleep by bringing the lower jaw forward slightly. This sleep apnea mouthpiece is specifically designed by dentists with special expertise in treating sleep apnea.
Surgery
If you have a deviated nasal septum, markedly enlarged tonsils, or a small lower jaw with an overbite, you may require surgery for sleep apnea.
Those with sleep apnea symptoms should consult their physician immediately and conduct a sleep apnea test.
SLEEPWALKING
Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder that causes people to get up and walk during their deep stages of sleep. Typically, sleepwalkers are unable to respond during the event and do not remember sleepwalking. In some cases, sleepwalking is associated with incoherent talking. Sleepwalking in children is most common but can last into adulthood.
TOO MUCH SLEEP
Just as it’s important to get 7-8 quality hours of sleep, it’s also important not to get too much sleep. Just as the saying goes, sometimes there can be too much of a good thing.
In general, the amount of sleep you need varies significantly over the course of your lifetime. It depends on your age and activity level as well as your general health and lifestyle habits. According to research, two factors — depression and low socioeconomic status — are strongly associated with sleeping too much.
