Do you suffer from a sleeping disorder?

(AON) Sleep disorder is classified as a problem with sleeping, which includes trouble falling or staying asleep, falling asleep at the wrong times, too much sleep, or abnormal behaviours during sleep.

 

Poor quality sleep can have a negative impact on your energy, emotional balance, and health, and if you are experiencing sleeping problems, it’s imperative to learn about the symptoms of common sleep disorders, what you can do to help yourself and when to see a doctor.

Here are the top-five most common sleep disorders:

 

1. Insomnia:

 

Insomnia is by far the most common sleep disorder, affecting nearly 60 percent of adults at least one night each week. Insomnia means getting poor-quality sleep which makes it difficult to get to sleep or to stay asleep at night. You may wake early in the morning or not feel refreshed when you get up.

 

There are many factors that can contribute to insomnia including stress and underlying medical conditions. Typical treatments include sleeping pills and behaviour therapy, but practicing good sleep habits can often be effective for treating mild cases of insomnia.

 

2. Sleep Apnea:

 

Sleep apnea is the second most common sleep disorder and affects millions of people worldwide. Sleep apnea is the temporary cessation of breathing due to the blockage of the upper airways during sleep.

 

These brief obstructions result in many sleep interruptions each hour, which dramatically affects the quality of sleep.

 

Since these awakenings are rarely remembered, sleep apnea sufferers are unaware of the source of their symptoms: daytime drowsiness, increased irritability or depression, decreased concentration and work productivity and even an increased number of traffic accidents.

 

Loud, consistent snoring is a hallmark of obstructive sleep apnea.

 

3. Sleepwalking & Night Terrors:

 

While insomnia and sleep apnea are more common in adults, other sleep disorders such as sleepwalking and night terrors are far more common in young children.

 

Sleepwalking is characterized by periods of getting out of bed while asleep.

 

Night terrors are most frequently seen in children under 6, but people of any age can be affected by this sleep disorder. Typical symptoms include excessive sweating, shaking and obvious fear.

 

Night terrors are distinctly different from the much more common nightmares, which occur during REM sleep and they are characterized by frequent recurrent episodes of intense crying and fear during sleep.

 

The disorder usually resolves during adolescence.

 

4. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS):

 

This is a disorder related to sensation and movement. People with RLS have an unpleasant feeling or sensation in their legs when they lie down to sleep and most people who suffer from this condition also have a very strong urge to move their legs, as moving the legs sometimes makes them feel better. However, all this movement makes it hard or impossible to get enough sleep.

 

When you don’t get enough sleep, you may start to have problems getting things done during the day because you’re so tired. You may also be sleepy or have trouble concentrating, so it’s important to see your doctor and get help to manage your symptoms.

 

Usually there isn’t a clear reason for restless legs. The problem may run in families and sometimes there is a medical cause, like not getting enough iron. If that’s the case, treating the cause may solve the problem.

 

5. Jet Lag:

 

Jet lag is also known as time-zone change; it is a disruption in sleep patterns following travel across time zones.

 

It occurs because the traveler’s internal “clock” is out of sync with the new time zone and symptoms include difficulty falling asleep, difficulty waking, and disrupted sleep, all leading to sleepiness and general malaise.

 

Are you suffering from some sort of sleeping disorder? And if so, which one?

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