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SLEEP DISORDERS
Description
There are different types of sleep disorders
that affect both men and women, but occur
more frequently in women as they age.
Those include; insomnia, snoring, sleep
apnea, restless leg syndrome, parasomnias,
and narcolepsy.
Statistical studies
show the following:
A four hour sleep loss is equal to being
drunk with a blood alcohol level of 0.1%
Motor vehicle accidents are the third
leading cause of death and injury in the
United States, and up to 20% of them are
sleep related
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There are 500,000 vehicular crashes
annually caused by untreated sleep apnea
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In the United States of America One in
20 men suffer from sleep apnea
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Jet Lag is worse when traveling toward
the East
Types and Symptoms
Insomnia
Derived for Latin, meaning no
sleep it is having difficulty falling
asleep or staying asleep. This most common
sleep complaint of Americans it can be
either Short-term (temporary) insomnia
lasting from a day to a month or ongoing
(chronic) insomnia which lasts a month or
more and can cause significant distress.
Most adults have experienced insomnia or
sleeplessness at one time or another in
their lives. According to the National
Center for Sleep Disorders Research at the
National Institutes of Health, about 30 to
40 percent of adults say they have some
symptoms of insomnia within a given year,
and about 10 to 15 percent of adults say
they have chronic insomnia.
Symptoms include:
Difficulty falling asleep
often resulting in tossing and turning
Having trouble going back
to sleep after awakening
Feeling fatigued
and un-refreshed when awakening
Irritability,
and unproductiveness during the day
Snoring
Loud and often hoarse breathing sound that
occurs during sleep. Snoring takes place
when the soft palate in the mouth vibrates.
More than 60% of individuals snore with a
higher prevalence among men.
The reason snoring occurs when a person
sleeps is that the muscles relax in the back
of the throat relax and collapse blocking
the airway.
Sleep Apnea
Latin for no breath sleep apnea is a
disorder in which breathing is briefly and
repeatedly interrupted for 10 seconds or
more during sleep. The muscles in the back
of the throat are not able to keep the
throat open, despite efforts to breathe
which results in blockages in the airway and
breathing interruptions. Though affecting
both men and women it is more prevalent
among men especially those that are obese.
Symptoms include:
Loud snoring Feeling very sleepy during the
day.
Periods in which
breathing stops during sleep, often noticed
by a bed partner .
Tossing and
turning during sleep, waking up with a
headache, and feeling irritated.
Restless Leg Syndrome
Restless legs syndrome is a neurological
disorder characterized by unpleasant
sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable
urge to move when at rest in an effort to
relieve these feelings. This condition
occurs in both men and women but is slightly
more prevalent in females. This disorder is
oft not treated due to sufferers reluctance
to seek medical attention fearing they will
not be taken seriously. In addition,
physicians often misdiagnose the symptoms
attributing them to nervousness, insomnia,
arthritis, muscle cramps and aging.
Symptoms include:
Irresistible urge to move the legs due to
pain or discomfort
Sensations are described as achy, creepy,
crawly, or prickly
Symptoms usually begin approximately after 15
minutes of lying down and relaxing or not
moving legs like when traveling.
Parasomnias
There are various forms of parasomnias
including Sleep walking or talking, teeth
grinding, night terrors, among others
characterized by partial arousals during
sleep or during transitions between
wakefulness and sleep. These conditions are
more prevalent among children than adults.
Narcolepsy
A sleep disorder marked by sudden,
uncontrollable urges to sleep, causing an
individual to fall asleep at inappropriate
times. Statistical studies estimate that
about 200,000 Americans suffer from this
condition but only 50,000 are diagnosed.
Worldwide Narcolepsy affects all races and
ethnic groups but the numbers vary. For
example compare to the US, Israel has a much
lower prevalence while Japan has a much
higher incidence. Narcolepsy affects both
men and women and frequently diagnosed at
the age of 35-45.
Symptoms Include:
Excessive daytime sleepiness People with
Narcolepsy fall asleep anywhere and anytime
without warning
Sudden loss of muscle tone this may cause
slurred speech, or complete muscle weakness
and may last few seconds to a few minutes
Sleep Paralysis experiencing temporary
inability to move or speak while falling
asleep or upon awakening
Hallucinations
Automatic Behavior continuing to function
during sleep but awakening with no memory of
performing the function.
Questions to ask the
expert
How many years
experience have you had treating this
disorder
What is your
success rate
Certificates and
Licenses
References
General Tips
Practice good
sleeping habits. Go to bed and get up at the
same time each day, whether you are rested
or not.
Do not consume
alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine for 4 to 6
hours or longer before bedtime.
Use your bed
only for sleeping and sex, and not for
reading, working or watching TV.
Keep your
bedroom at a comfortable temperature.
A mattress that
provides good support is essential.
Make your
bedroom cool, dark, quiet and comfortable.
Do not lie in
bed awake for longer than 15 minutes,
instead it is advisable for you to get up,
leave the bedroom, and do something quiet
that will cause you to be sleepy again.
Get regular
exercise. Do so on a daily basis but at
least 2 hours prior to bedtime as exercise
may cause wakefulness.
If you do need
to use OTC sleep aides make sure to use it
only on a short term basis as you can
develop a tolerance. It is advisable to
consult your physician prior to taking this
drugs.
Lose weight if
you are overweight
Stretch your
legs at the beginning and end of each day.
Do not drive or
operate machinery when you feel sleepy.
Join Support
Groups
Once it is
determined what sleep disorder you are
affected by - Go
To the Expert for the appropriate care.
List of Products &
Services
Medications directed toward a specific
sleep-disrupting cause should also be
considered. Prescription drugs can be
recommended and prescribed by a personal
physician.
For over the counter sleep aids go to
www.DrugStore.com.
The common ones such as Sleep-Eze, Sominex,
Nytol, and Unisom contain antihistamines.
Common side effects of over-the-counter
sleeping pills include: drowsiness the next
day, dizziness, lack of coordination,
forgetfulness among others.
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