You might be shocked to learn that somewhere between 50 and 70 million Americans suffer from a sleep disorder. Maintaining a healthy sleep routine is important for one’s day-to-day mental acuity and motor function. Nonetheless, many people find themselves unable to achieve a good night’s sleep no matter how hard they try or what approach they take.
If you find yourself tossing and turning throughout the night or feeling insufficiently rested, you are by no means alone. Even though they are common, a wide variety of sleeping disorders can be treated. This brief guide will break down the most common sleeping disorders and what can be done to mitigate them.
1. Insomnia: The Most Familiar of Sleeping Disorders
Insomnia is perhaps the most common sleep disorder that people experience.
Insomnia can be characterized by an inability to fall or remain asleep. Very often, this can manifest by waking up several hours earlier than intended and being unable to fall back asleep again. With this very often creating fatigue during daylight hours, insomnia can become a cyclical pattern.
Common treatments for this sleeping disorder can include sedative medications. Creating repeated habits to reinforce a sleep routine can help as well.
2. Sleep Apnea
Among any list of sleep disorders, sleep apnea will always be one of the most frequently seen. As it already stands, nearly half of people snore in their sleep. However, when it leads to noticeably high volumes or breathing irregularities then that can be a sign of a sleep disorder.
Sleep apnea is when loud snoring and breathing irregularity interrupt one’s sleep. This can come to affect one’s sleep quality, also leading to tiredness in the daytime.
If you have sleep apnea, you should consider a sleep lab in order for professionals to determine the exact treatment you may need. In many cases, this can involve requiring the use of a breathing mask to ease respiratory function while asleep.
3. Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a particularly unique mainstay you’ll find on any given sleep disorders list.
This sleeping disorder is far more than severe tiredness during the day. In fact, a person experiencing narcolepsy will regularly have “sleep attacks” during daylight hours. During such episodes, those experiencing narcolepsy aren’t able to help to fall asleep at inconvenient moments.
Don’t Let Sleep Interruptions Stay Unaddressed
If you and/or a loved one are experiencing symptoms of sleeping disorders, you should seek treatment as soon as you can. Letting sleep disorders continue unabated can lead to increased health risks as you go about your daily schedule.
At Northwest Regional Health, our sleep labs can pinpoint your sleeping problems and help get you the treatment you need.