A good night’s sleep is crucial for a healthy mind and body. People who don’t get enough sleep are at greater risk of developing chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and depression. A sleeping disorder is any disruption to your normal patterns of sleep that may be caused by stress, anxiety, diet or another factor.
The most common types of sleeping disorders are insomnia, restless legs syndrome (RLS), and narcolepsy. Moreover, the prevalence of sleep apnea has been on the rise in recent years. If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep consistently throughout the night—or wake up feeling exhausted—you may have one of these conditions. If you are experiencing any difficulties with sleeping, read on to learn more about the most common sleeping disorders and effective solutions to these problems.
What are sleeping disorders?
A sleeping disorder is any disruption to your normal patterns of sleep that may be caused by stress, anxiety, diet or another factor. The most common types of sleeping disorders are insomnia, restless legs syndrome (RLS), and narcolepsy. Moreover, the prevalence of sleep apnea has been on the rise in recent years. If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep consistently throughout the night—or wake up feeling exhausted—you may have one of these conditions. If you are experiencing any difficulties with sleeping, read on to learn more about the most common sleeping disorders and effective solutions to these problems.
How many types of sleep disorders are there?
There are many different types of sleeping disorders, and the top ones include:
- Insomnia – Insomnia is the most common disorder, affecting nearly 50% of people at some point in their lives. It occurs when a person has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep long enough to feel rested in the morning.
- RLS (resting leg syndrome) – RLS is a neurological disorder that causes uncomfortable feelings in the legs, particularly at night. It is often triggered by periods of inactivity, like when a person is trying to go to sleep.
- Sleep apnea – Sleep apnea is a common disorder that causes breathing to stop and start many times throughout the night.
- Narcolepsy – Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, periods of uncontrollable sleep, and involuntary sleep episodes.
What is Insomnia?
Insomnia is the most common sleeping disorder. It occurs when a person has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep long enough to feel rested in the morning. Most people will experience insomnia at some point in their lives, but a few lifestyle changes can help ease the symptoms.
If you are experiencing insomnia, try to avoid consuming caffeine and nicotine in the late afternoon and evening. Sleeping on a consistent schedule can help encourage your body to fall asleep at the right time. If you are experiencing insomnia, you should also avoid drinking alcohol before bedtime, as the effects of alcohol are not immediate like caffeine.
What is Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)?
RLS is a neurological disorder that causes uncomfortable feelings in the legs, particularly at night. It is often triggered by periods of inactivity, like when a person is trying to go to sleep. Some people experience RLS only during pregnancy. Restless legs syndrome can be treated with medications like dopamine agonists, iron supplements, or anti-epileptic drugs. Behavioural strategies, such as leg stretching and relaxation techniques, can help ease the symptoms, too. It is important to remember that all of these strategies will take time to work, so be patient.
What is Narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, periods of uncontrollable sleep, and involuntary sleep episodes. While there is no cure for narcolepsy, certain therapies can help ease symptoms. If you experience narcolepsy, talk to your doctor about the benefits of therapy. Cognitive behavioural therapy and sleep hygiene therapy are two popular types of therapy that can help ease the symptoms of narcolepsy.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a common disorder that causes breathing to stop and start many times throughout the night. When someone has sleep apnea, their airway is temporarily blocked as they are sleeping, which can cause them to wake up feeling fatigued and with a dry mouth. Sleep apnea is often treated with a CPAP machine, which provides a consistent flow of air.
If you think you may have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor about the best way to get tested. There is no specific test for sleep apnea, but your doctor will be able to determine if it is a possibility by asking about your sleep habits and medical history. If you do have sleep apnea, do not try to self-treat the symptoms. See a doctor to find the best treatment options.
How are sleep disorders treated?
There are a variety of treatments recommended by healthcare providers:
- Some sleep specialists recommend cognitive behaviour therapy. You can use this type of counselling to identify, challenge, and change thoughts that keep you awake.
- Keeping a regular sleep schedule is one of the sleep hygiene practices.
- Medications and/or supplements.
- Get regular exercise.
- Manage the temperature so that you’re comfortable.
- Minimize noise.
- Minimize light.
With medication
Your doctor may suggest some of the following medicines and supplements:
- Melatonin, zolpidem, zaleplon, eszopiclone, ramelteon, suvorexant, lamborexant, or doxepin may be beneficial for certain types of insomnia.
- Restless legs syndrome can be treated with gabapentin, gabapentin enacarbil, or pregabalin.
- Several stimulants or wake-promoting drugs, such as modafinil, armodafinil, pitolisant, and solriamfetol, may be used to treat narcolepsy.
- If you’re looking to buy modafinil, there is a lot of evidence showing that modafinil can be used to treat several sleep problems such as narcolepsy, and there are ongoing clinical trials to see if it can help with fatigue, cocaine addiction, attention deficit disorder, depression, seasonal affective disorder, bipolar depression, nicotine addiction, and schizophrenia. Preclinical research suggests that it may be useful in treating neurodegenerative conditions.
What are some tips for getting a good night’s sleep?
If you are experiencing any difficulties with sleeping, these strategies may help ease the symptoms.
– Avoid bright lights in the evenings – These can trick your body into thinking it is daytime and may make it more difficult to fall asleep.
– Exercise regularly – This may reduce stress and make it easier to fall asleep.
– Create a sleep routine – This will help your body know when it is time to wind down and fall asleep.
– Create a comfortable sleep environment – Make sure the temperature of your room is comfortable and the bedding is clean.
– Avoid caffeinated beverages in the afternoon and evening – These can make it more difficult to fall asleep.
– Avoid consuming large meals close to bedtime – Keeping your stomach empty may help prevent indigestion and make it easier to fall asleep.
– Avoid taking naps during the day – Naps may make it more difficult to fall asleep at night.
– Practice positive thinking – This may help ease anxiety and stress.
– Avoid watching TV or using your phone in bed – The bright lights from these devices may trick your body into thinking it is daytime and make it more difficult to fall asleep.
– Consider using a sleep aid – If you have tried all of the above tips and are still struggling to fall asleep, you may want to talk to your doctor about using a sleep aid.
Conclusion
If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, it is important to seek medical attention. Sleep disturbances can be signs of a larger health issue, such as sleep apnea or narcolepsy. A sleep disorder can have serious health implications if left untreated, and it can affect your quality of life.
If you are experiencing difficulties with sleeping, remember that there are many different types of sleeping disorders, and they can all be treated differently. The most important thing is to find a treatment that works for you. With proper sleep hygiene and treatment, most people can overcome their sleeping problems and get the rest they need to be healthy and happy.
