Symptoms of sleep disorders occur due to a variety of reasons and it is important to identify the reasons for their occurrence. The lifestyle of the patient is disrupted, and if occurrs at the wrong time, it could provide fatal in certain situations.
Symptoms of Sleep Disorders
Symptoms of sleep disorders normally manifest themselves in the following ways:
- Perpetually Feeling Tired
This is one of the main symptoms of sleep disorders. Even having eight hours of sleep does not help and you have a feeling of grogginess as well as suffering from exhaustion. When the sleep cycle is normal, there are moments of deep sleep as well as light sleep. You should be feeling awake as well as alert. When a full night of sleep still makes you feel sleepy, your brain, as well as your body, are unable to reach the sleep levels that restore your energy. - Breathing Stoppage
You are told by your partner that you snore loudly and your breathing stops sometimes. Snoring is not as harmless as it appears to be as it could be an underlying sign of sleep apnea which could have fatal consequences. - Dozing off During the Day
You have a tendency to fall asleep during the day even with a proper night of sleep. There is a continuous need for sleep all through the day. You fall asleep while at work or while driving. These are indicators that you might be suffering from a sleep disorder and need to see a doctor immediately. When the problem with falling asleep persists for a month, then this is a clear indication of a sleep disorder. It is important to recognize the problem and seek medical attention immediately. - Medical Conditions
There may be a medical condition that you are suffering from which is chronic in nature. You could be having depression, some kind of illness or a type of chronic pain in which case the lack of sleep is understandable. Ailments like restless leg syndrome flare up mostly at night, keeping you awake. Identification of the underlying cause is important.
Causes of Sleep Disorders
- Allergies and Problems with Respiration
Infections of the upper respiratory tract as well as allergies or colds can give rise to sleep disorders. Nasal breathing becomes a problem leading to difficulty in sleeping. - Nocturia
When you have the urge to urinate frequently at night, this disorder is known as nocturia. This interrupts your sleep cycle. This abnormality may be due to urinary tract infections or imbalances in your hormones. Pain or bleeding with the urination means a doctor needs to be consulted immediately. - Chronic Pain
When the pain is constant, not only will you have difficulty falling asleep but you might be forced to wake up after you have fallen asleep. This chronic pain may be due to arthritis, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel problems, continuous headaches or persistent pain of the lower back. However, sleep disorders might worsen chronic pain. - Stress or Anxiety
The quality of sleep is compromised when you are suffering from some kind of stress or anxiety. Your sleep could also be interrupted by nightmares, sleepwalking, as well as sleep talking.
Types of Sleep Disorders
- Insomnia
When you can’t fall asleep or stay asleep, it is a clear indication of insomnia. The reasons could be jet lag, hormonal, indigestion, anxiety or stress. There could be some other underlying condition. Insomnia leads to deterioration of your life’s quality as you suffer from depression, are unable to concentrate, become irritable, gain weight or experience a drop in performance. When insomnia persists for a month, this is known as chronic insomnia. When the episodes are periodic, it is called intermittent. When it happens for a couple of nights, it is referred to as transient. - Sleep Apnea
When breathing pauses during sleep it is a characteristic of sleep apnea. This is a critical medical situation as there is less intake of oxygen by the body. You might be forced to wake up at night. - Parasomnias
These are characterized by abnormal movements or behaviors while sleeping. These include walking while asleep, talking while asleep, groaning, nightmares, wetting the bed, grinding of teeth or clenching of jaws. - Restless Leg Syndrome
This disorder leads to an urge to move your legs. The legs could also experience a tingling sensation simultaneously. While they are mostly a nighttime occurrence, they sometimes do happen during the daytime. The underlying cause is not certain, though patients with ADHD or Parkinson’s disease have been known to experience them. - Narcolepsy
There are sleep attacks that happen during the daytime. There is extreme tiredness and tendency to fall asleep suddenly. There may be sleep paralysis which makes it difficult to move when you wake up. Disorders relating to the nerve like multiple sclerosis could lead to narcolepsy.
