Sleep Disorders Help

Sleep disorders affect at least 40 million Americans each year.

Sleep disorders cause sleep deprivations which interfere with work, driving, and social activities.  It is estimated that 16 billion dollars in medical cost each year are due to sleep disorders.  The most common sleep disorders include insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and Narcolepsy.

Insomnia is the feeling that you have not slept due to frequently waking up during the night or waking up early and being unable to get back to sleep.  Most everyone occasionally suffers from short term insomnia.  Insomnia affects job performance and well being the next day.  Sleeping pills are usually prescribed but often stop working after several weeks.

Sleep apnea is another type of sleep disorder.   This is where breathing is interrupted during sleep.  This sleep disorder usually occurs with fat build up or loss of muscle tone with aging allowing the windpipe to collapse during breathing when muscles relax during sleep.  This problem called obstructive sleep apnea and is normally associated with loud snoring.

Due to the collapse of the windpipe, the air flow is blocked from 10 seconds to a minute while the person sleeping struggles to breathe.  This causes the blood oxygen level to fall causing the brain to respond by awakening the person enough to open the wind pipe.  This cycle may be repeated 100 of times a night leaving the person continually sleepy.

Another sleep disorder is called restless leg syndrome.  This is where there is a sensation of unpleasant crawling, prickling, or tingling sensation in the legs giving an urge to move them for relief.

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that affects 250,000 Americans.  Narcolepsy causes frequent “sleep attacks” that can last from several seconds to more than 30 minutes.  This sleep disorder is usually hereditary.  Once diagnosed, medications can help control the symptoms and prevent dangerous situations due to falling asleep at improper times.

Sleep disorders, whether caused by physical or mental factors, can be treated or managed once they are properly diagnosed.  If you are suffering from a sleep disorder, make an appointment to see your doctor.