Sleep is an essential human basic need and is critical to many health aspects. Although it is common to experience occasional sleep disruptions, you should seek expert help when you feel you have not been getting quality sleep for weeks or months. The sleep disorders Bridgewater specialists can help you understand the condition interfering with your sleep’s quantity, quality, and timing. Sleep disorders are many, and some are more serious than others. They can be due to stress, health problems, or an unhealthy lifestyle. Let us look at the five major disorders that can disrupt your sleep.
Sleep Apnea
This occurs when your breathing is interrupted while you sleep, where you might be releasing shallow breaths or taking pauses while breathing. You might wake up suddenly every time breathing is disrupted. When not properly managed, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure or heart attack. You can suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, where your airway is blocked when your throat muscles relax. You can also endure central sleep apnea when your brain malfunctions and fails to tell your body to breathe. When you endure both obstructive and central sleep apnea, you are said to endure complex sleep apnea.
Insomnia
It is normal to fail to fall asleep occasionally, especially during a significant event. You stay awake despite your efforts to fall asleep, no matter how exhausted you are. You are said to be suffering insomnia when this happens often. It becomes difficult for you to fall or stay asleep even in normal circumstances. You can have acute insomnia, which is short-term and caused by a traumatic event. But when you endure chronic insomnia, it becomes long-term and could be caused by mental issues, stress, certain medications, excessive consumption of alcohol, and unpleasant sleeping environments.
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
If you experience or your partner has told you to move your legs while sleeping, you could be suffering from restless legs syndrome. Your legs could move or shake in your sleep due to an unpleasant sensation. When it occurs, it can make it difficult to fall or stay asleep, affecting the quantity and quality of your sleep. Restless legs syndrome is common in adults but can occur at any age. However, it worsens with age.
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD)
Dreaming is a part of a night’s sleep but occurs in unconsciousness. But some people act out their dreams, whether simple, dramatic, or violent. Everybody should go into a paralysis state during the dream phase, but you will not if you are enduring the REM sleep behavior disorder. This lets you move your limbs and act out your dream, which can cause disturbances to others in your home, especially if you share rooms. It is also dangerous since you can get up and move around or get violent without being aware, and you can hurt yourself.
Narcolepsy
This is a condition where it is difficult to stay awake. You experience excessive daytime drowsiness or sleepiness that you cannot control with this condition. You can get sudden sleep attacks no matter what you do, putting you in danger. It also causes interruptions and disturbances in your commitments.
If you are having trouble sleeping, you better seek expert help. Get in touch with the Respacare sleep disorder specialists to get to the root of your situation and learn how to improve your sleep. Remember that a good night’s sleep is crucial for your overall well being.
