Courtesy of South Texas Regional Medical Center Healthy Woman Program
(March 26, 2008)Jourdanton, TX—As one of the most basic human needs, sleep allows the body to rest and restore energy. However, depriving the body of sleep can result in impaired memory and thought processes, depression, a decreased immune response, and a greater chance of being diagnosed with high blood pressure. If you often feel restless, tired or have trouble sleeping through the night, you could have a sleep disorder, which can be managed and treated once diagnosed by a doctor. With the help of your physician, you can quickly get back on the path to a full night's sleep.
Sleep disorders, which can be caused by physical, psychological or external issues, occur when one cause repeatedly interrupts the normal sleep cycle. A person's lifestyle can also contribute to sleep problems. For instance, people who regularly smoke cigarettes or drink coffee or alcohol are more likely to have sleep problems. Medication, depression or anxiety can also contribute to sleep problems.
Common sleeping disorders include:
- Snoring: a problem where inhaled air rattles over the tissues of the throat. In some cases this can be a sign of sleep apnea.
- Sleep apnea: a condition where the upper airway becomes completely or partially blocked, interrupting breathing during sleep. Severe sleep apnea is associated with high blood pressure and a high risk for heart attack or stroke.
- Insomnia: a problem where people do not get enough sleep at night due to trouble falling asleep; 10 to 15 percent of adults say they have chronic insomnia.
- Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS): a disorder where people feel the need to move their legs or feet, often delaying the onset of sleep and causing people to wake up during sleep.
- Narcolepsy: a brain disorder that causes excessive, constant sleepiness during the day. Though television often shows narcoleptics falling asleep in the middle of everyday tasks, this only happens to a small percentage of people with this condition.
All of these examples of sleep problems can be triggered by various issues. For example, insomnia may start as a side effect from stress or medication, but because people can become conditioned to insomnia, it may last far longer than it would otherwise. Snoring can be caused by allergies. Sleep apnea can be caused by abnormal breathing during sleep and is often associated with being overweight.
Due to the wide variety of possible causes, sleep disorder sufferers may need to try several treatment options or a combination of treatments in order to effectively treat the problem. Treatments used for sleep disorders include behavioral therapy, medication or alternative therapy. Behavioral treatments often include relaxation exercises, such as mental or breathing exercises. Stimulus control, another behavioral treatment, makes the bedroom into a space for sleep and little else, conditioning the person to sleep when in the bedroom. Medications for sleep deprivation are usually prescribed by a doctor. Medicines for sleep disorders are widely varied and are usually prescribed only for short term use as they can be habit-forming. Alternative therapy includes regular exercise, relaxation, and meditation, all of which are shown to help deepen sleep in people with or without sleep disorders.
It is always best to discuss any sleep problems with your doctor, who can diagnose sleeping disorders and create a treatment plan tailored to your specific problems and needs. See your doctor if you are having trouble sleeping, waking up, or falling asleep during the day. To contact the South Texas Regional Medical Center Sleep Disorder Center call (830) 769-3515.
The free Healthy Woman Seminar for March will feature a presentation by South Texas Sleep Diagnostic Center on Thursday, March 27th, 2008. Free sleep evaluations will be provided before the presentation. Please call 830-769-5353 for more event details.
Sources:
WebMD:
http://www.webmd.com/
Mayo Clinic:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/
National Sleep Foundation:
http://centers.sleepfoundation.org/