The importance of healthy sleep is pretty clear to all of us. While having a good night’s sleep can help you improve your memory, focus, mood, health and general performance (mental and physical), not having one does all the opposite. Studies have shown that any type of sleep disorder can lead to increased risks of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, diabetes type 2, hypertension, etc. Along with that, hand-to-eye coordination is disrupted, and so is your ability to carry out the daily routine without troubles.
While some sleep disorders are mainly affected by what you do during the day (foods and fluids you ingest, wrong bedtime routines, over-naps, etc.), there are those that can be caused by an underlying physical condition (nasal problems for example). Let’s take a look at the possible sleep disorders, and how to treat them.
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List Of Sleep Disorders And Possible Treatment
1. What most people do not know is that our night sleeping need is not only caused by the conventions, but it is determined by our “internal clock” as well. That little thing is situated in the hypothalamus (suprachiasmatic nucleus), and the possible interruptions of the clock can lead to sleep disorders. The most common one is the famous jet leg or the cases where you wake up too late or too early. Same as with infamous insomnia, treatment for this one is based on regulating habits, and staying true to them.
2. Insomnia is probably one of the most common problems out there. The feeling of not resting enough, because you simply can’t fall asleep or you wake up more than a few times a night, is not a pleasant one. It is mostly caused either by bad habits before sleep, but by more serious issues as well like depression, anxiety as well as taking certain drugs that can interfere with your sleep. Treating one should not be that hard as long as you know the causes. Websites like Healthy Howard offer health programs for the members of their community, with good advice and solutions.
3. Snoring can be pretty annoying to the people around the person, and it can simply pose an issue exactly because of the noise that it makes, interrupting others sleep as well, or it can be a sign to a possible serious condition that is called sleep apnea.
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4. As mentioned in the section above, sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that sometimes even asks for surgical interventions. It is a condition where upper airway passage is partially or completely blocked which leads to shortness of breath. This can happen a few times a night and should be taken seriously, as if left untreated it can eventually lead to strokes. Usually, patients are recommended to take nasal sprays and change their sleep position, but if that is not successful, it is not rare that a surgical intervention unblocking the airway is needed.
5. Narcolepsy is one of the most undiscovered sleep disorders out of all. The thing is no one is completely sure what causes it. We know genetics and environmental factors might have their say here, but that’s where it ends. It is a condition where a person is constantly experiencing daytime sleepiness, which in terms interferes with the ability to fulfill the daily routine. The treatment cannot be certain, as we don’t know the sure cause either, but applying healthy habits should at least help.
7. Restless Legs Syndrome is a condition where limbs are uncontrollably twitching during the night, making it harder to get a good night’s sleep. Causes are various with genetics, vitamin deficiencies, nerve disorders, and even pregnancy being one of the main ones. Treating a certain cause and applying healthy habits should be the way to go.
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8. Nightmares or terrors are one of the most frightening events that one person can experience, especially if it is a child. It is mostly caused by underlying stress, but sometimes alcohol or drug intake has an effect as well. Ongoing emotional problems are also likely to manifest in a nightmare. Though stressful, it is important to remember that a nightmare is just a part of the sleep process (a bad dream), and don’t let it affect your daily routine.
Summary
It is clear that none of this sleep disorders is something someone would voluntarily opt for, but it is important to know that everything is treatable with the right knowledge and power of will. Health organizations like HealthyHowardMD offer excellent health instructions and programs that can in terms lead you to problem solvation. Remember, healthy sleep leads to healthy you!
