How Can You Tell if You Have a Sleep Disorder?

Sleep disorders can make life a misery for those of us who suffer from them. Well known physical problems such as sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome are not the only contributing factor towards insomnia.

Psychological disorders, such as stress, are just as deadly if not more so, as they work negatively on the mind. Often the unfortunate sufferer believes they will never sleep well again!

How Can You Tell if You Have a Sleep Disorder?
The Causes and Effects of Sleep Deprivation on the Body
By Sandra Grauschopf

A good night’s sleep is not just a luxury – it’s an integral part of a healthy life. Although people can survive longer without food than without sleep, its importance is all too often overlooked. Sound sleep has a major impact on everything from your moods to the ability to learn and to remember. A sleep disorder can interrupt the natural cycle of rest, threatening your mental and physical health.

Luckily, significant advancements have been made in the scientific study of sleep disorders, with new breakthroughs in everything from more effective sleep medication to technological sleep aids like a sleep mask to help apnea sufferers. By educating yourself and working together with your medical professional to diagnose and address your specific sleep problem, you can be on your way to a healthy, restful night’s sleep.

How Does Sleep Work?
Every night, we go through five stages of sleep, starting with a relaxed state when we are preparing to doze off, and culminating in REM sleep, the stage when people have vivid dreams.

During REM sleep, the body experiences sleep paralysis, which prevents us from injuring ourselves unconsciously. REM sleep is thought to be the time when we process our daily experiences and perform other cerebral tasks.

These five cycles are repeated throughout the night, with each stage showing a clear effect on brain patterns. Furthermore, the cycles build upon one another, with each consecutive sleep cycle being longer than the ones before.

What Causes a Sleep Disorder?
A sleep disorder is a persistent condition which interrupts the natural rest cycle. This could by caused by a physical condition, such as obstructive sleep apnea, in which the airway is blocked during sleep, causing a person to wake up choking – or a psychological condition, such as stress, which hinders the ability to fall asleep and to sleep soundly – or even a biological problem, such as central sleep apnea, in which the brain does not send the correct breathing signals.

Some common disorders that can cause sleep deprivation include:
    • Insomnia
    • Apnea, including obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea
    • Nightmares
    • Night terrors
    • Grinding of the teeth
    • Restless leg syndrome
    • Sleepwalking
    • Jet lag or Shift work sleep disorder
    • Narcolepsy
    • Snoring

A sleep problem can also be exacerbated by mental or physical illness, menopause, and a loud or disruptive sleep environment. Chemicals such as caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and some herbal supplements can interrupt a good night’s rest, as can eating spicy foods or having meals before bedtime. Over-the-counter sleep medication is also a common culprit, oftentimes causing more problems than they solve.

What Are the Symptoms of a Sleep Disorder?
It can be surprisingly difficult to know if you have a sleep problem. Most people don’t remember what happens during the night, which means that even if you are having difficulty sleeping, you might forget about it in the daytime. Some of the most frequent symptoms of sleep deprivation include:
    • Difficulty getting to sleep.
    • Waking up gasping. This is a common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea.
    • Being unable to move upon waking up. This is a problem with the sleep paralysis that occurs during REM sleep. It is also the cause of night terrors, which is        waking up with the feeling that someone is in the room with you, or even sitting on your chest.
    • Kicking or twitching your limbs during the night.
    • Trouble getting up in the morning. You may also experience a lack of energy throughout the day.
    • Difficulty with your memory, or with learning new things. REM sleep is directly related to your mind’s ability to process and remember new information.
    • Falling asleep at inappropriate times. If you find yourself drifting off at work, behind the wheel of your car, or in social settings, you may not be getting the rest you need at bedtime.
    • Physical symptoms like high blood pressure or being overweight. Snoring. Snoring can be a cause and a symptom of a serious sleep disorder.


How Are Sleep Disorders Diagnosed?
If you are experiencing frequent tiredness or inability to sleep, it is a good idea to discuss your situation with your doctor. Your doctor will be able to find out if there are any underlying causes for your sleep problem, and will be able to come up with a treatment plan.

There are three common steps to diagnose a sleep disorder:
    • Taking a medical history. Your doctor will examine you for medical reasons that could be underlying your sleep problem.
    • Using a sleep diary. Oftentimes, you will be asked to fill out a sleep diary, which will track how you sleep for a couple of weeks in a row. This will help you       establish patterns of behavior that could be leading to your sleep deprivation.
    • Staying overnight at a sleep clinic. This will allow your doctor to observe how your body behaves overnight. Additionally, important functions like your heart rate, your oxygen flow, and your brain wave patterns will be tracked, which will help pinpoint which sleep disorder you have.


What Treatments Are Available?
The good news is that sleep disorder sufferers have a wide range of solutions, ranging from CPAP machines for sleep apnea treatment to simple behavioral changes that can work as a sleep aid. Some sleep problem treatments include:
    • Treat the underlying cause – If your sleep deprivation is caused by a physical or mental illness, treating the underlying problem will allow you to sleep naturally once again.
    • Change behaviors – Even people with a serious sleep disorder can make lifestyle changes to help the problem. These include:
        o Cutting out drinking, caffeine, and smoking
        o Pursuing meditation and other relaxation techniques
        o Weight loss
        o Exercise
        o Set a schedule
        o Wake to sunshine – some sunshine on your face in the mornings helps to set your body’s sleep rhythm
    • Using a sleep aid – A comfortable environment makes sleeping significantly easier. Finding a sleep aid that works for you could eliminate your sleep problem. For example
        o A comfortable pillow or mattress
        o Warmth – take a bath shortly before going to bed, drink a cup of hot milk, or warm your bed with a heating pad.
        o Sleep mask – block disturbing light by using a comfortable sleep mask.
    • Surgery – Surgery can be used to treat some sleep disorders. For example, it can be used as a sleep apnea treatment or to eliminate snoring.
    • Sleep medication – Depending on your type of sleep problem, sleep medication could be an option. For example:
        o Antidepressants for narcolepsy
        o Sleep medication for Restless Leg Syndrome
        o Sedatives – may be used in rare cases to alleviate short-term sleeplessness

While just about everyone experiences the occasional sleep problem, a chronic sleep disorder is a cause for real concern. Long term sleep deprivation not only makes you bleary, irritable, and unable to focus clearly, but it also increases your chances of life-threatening illnesses like heart attack, arrhythmia, diabetes, and stroke. By treating a sleep disorder early, you will be on the road to better physical and mental health.

About the Author

Sandra Grauschopf is a freelance writer and internet marketing expert who has been writing professionally both on and off the web for over 10 years.  Ever since she was a child, she has enjoyed researching and sharing her knowledge about topics like sleep apnea, CPAP machines and sleep disorders.

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