A collection of problems known as sleep disorders impact the length and quality of our sleep, making it difficult for us to get asleep, stay asleep, or wake up too early and not feel rested. Each of these conditions has a major effect on a person’s general health, wellbeing, and ability to operate. Sleep problems come in a variety of forms, each with its own symptoms and underlying causes. The most typical ones consist of:
- Insomnia: Insomnia is characterized as the difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep. Insomnia can be acute or chronic and may be caused by factors such as stress, anxiety, depression, or poor sleeping habits.
- Sleep Apnea: Sleep Apnea is a condition characterized by pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep. It can lead to a fragmented sleep, loud snoring, daytime sleepiness and other increased risk of other health problems such as hypertension, heart disease and strokes.
- Restless Leg Syndrome: RLS is neurological disorder characterized by uncomfortable sensations in legs, often describing as tingling or itching, that occur primarily at rest and are relieved by movement. Symptoms typically worsen in the evening or at night.
- Narcolepsy: Chronic neurological disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden and uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep, sleep paralysis and vivid hallucinations upon falling asleep or waking up.
- Hypersomnia: Hypersomnia is a condition characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness despite getting adequate nighttime sleep.
These are but a handful of instances of sleep disturbances. A thorough assessment by a medical practitioner is usually necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep problems. This evaluation may include a thorough review of the patient’s medical history, a physical examination, sleep studies, and additional diagnostic testing. The kind and severity of the sleep issue will determine the best course of treatment, which may involve behavioral therapy, medication, lifestyle changes, medical devices, or surgery.
