Sleep Disorder

Sleep disorder is the most recent issue that has been
spreading rapidly in many countries. Amongst hundreds of
various other problems prevailing in the society, sleep
disorders are supposed to be given utmost importance as
they not only affect the sleep life but also tend to affect the
waking life.
But the actual condition is that they are given the least
importance or can also be said that they are just ignored.
Poor sleep is the major cause behind these disorders that
might eventually lead to minor or serious medical and
psychiatric problems.
As an attempt to address such problems, this report
discusses on the most common sleep disorders like sleep
apnea, snoring and its affects on individuals.
Not just one, there are hundreds of sleep disorders that are
noticed in the society. These disorders might become
dangerous for life when left uncared.
Snoring, Sleep apnea, Insomnia, Narcolepsy, Parasomnias,
Restless Legs and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder are
some of the disorders that are commonly found.
None of the commonly found sleep disorders like sleep
apnea and snoring are inherited but all are acquired through
various sources like behavioral causes, environment, stress
or might also be subsets of the victims medical or health
problems.
A layman would best understand this if he / she happens to
know the fact that Insomnia, considered as one of the major
sleep disorder, is also acquired by caffeine intoxication.
Caffeine intoxication shouldn’t be presumed to be a habitual
activity of drug addicts who infuse caffeine into their body
but the fact is that it is also infused into the body of a
normal person who consumes more than 2 to 3 cups of
coffee every day.
This eventually not only becomes a habit rather the person
becomes addicted towards this mind-altering drug.
Sleep disorders are usually inter-related; that is for instance
a person who is suffering from sleep apnea might also be a
victim of insomnia.
Insomnia, which is often thought to be a result of stress and
anxiety, is also caused due to sleep deprivation. Other than
this, even medications that are taken as a result of certain
illnesses might also cause sleeplessness.
Age as well plays a vital role in pertaining to getting a good
night’s sleep. This is because of the biological fact that
melatonin, a chemical that is secreted in order to induce
sleep, secretion decreases as we age.
As we attain the age of sixty, secretion of this chemical
reduces obviously resulting in problems like either rising
early in the morning or the inability to sleep at night.
So lack of sleep as well is a major cause for a number of
sleep disorders including sleep apnea and snoring.
Let us discuss on how many percentages of human beings in
this world are aware of the causes of sleep deprivation.
Poor thing, the answer would definitely be in single digit. At
the first place, most of us are not aware of how many hours
a normal human being is expected to sleep per day.
A number of misconceptions prevail some addressing it to be
8 hrs and some mentioning it to be 5 hrs. The fact is that
there is no such standard number that determines the hours
a human being should sleep.
It actually depends on individuals and the nature of their
body chemistry, for instance, a short sleeper sleeps for 3 to
4 hours per day whereas a long sleeper sleeps for more than
10 hours.
This also depends on age; for instance, a 16 month old baby
might sleep for more than 16 hours per day but a sixty year
old elderly person might take short naps during day and
sleep only for 5 hours during night. All these conditions
being normal, a disorder can be deducted only either when
tried to adapt a new sleeping condition or when the usual
sleeping pattern is disturbed.
As mentioned earlier, there are a number of sleep disorders
that are found in common these days. Let’s start our
discussion with sleep apnea.
The word ‘apnea’ is a Greek word that means ‘without
breath’. The word is very specifically selected for the
condition, as sleep apnea is a condition in which the victims
usually stop breathing during their sleep. To be more
technical, it can be defined as a condition in which the
airway collapses and breathing repeatedly stops. The
patients stop breathing repeatedly, may be hundreds of time
during their sleep or it might in some cases be even for one
or more than one minute.
As the condition sustains, oxygen levels in the bloodstream
falls down, in turn leading to high blood pressure, strokes,
heart attack, and many other abnormal heart rhythms.
Increased possibilities for heart attack and stroke in noted
among victims of sleep apnea who are obese. Obesity might
cause sleep apnea by the fatty cells that enlarge and
contract therefore leading to obstruction in the airway.
This is a real serious condition, which should be treated as
soon as suspected. Sleep apnea is very common like any
other common diet challenging health problem like diabetes.
As there is no age restriction for this disorder, sleep apnea is
commonly found in children as well.
Educating them about the causes and preventive measures
of sleep apnea can only reduce the increase in victims. This
sleep disorder is desperately undiagnosed and untreated in
many cases that in turn lead to a number of serious
consequences.
In order to start its early treatment, it is necessary to detect
sleep apnea at the earliest. There are quite number of
symptoms that can help us locate the victim suffering from
sleep apnea.
As mentioned earlier, sleep apnea is a condition in which the
victim stops breathing several times during sleep. This
periodical stoppage upsets the balance of oxygen and carbon
dioxide in the blood. As the amount of carbon dioxide
increases, the brain senses the condition and generates an
impulse that wakes us the victim in order to release the
excess carbon dioxide in the body and helps him/ her to in
take enough amount of oxygen.
This cyclic reaction takes place from between ten to sixty
times during one sleep-night. It might in extreme cases stop
the victim to breathe for more than one or two minutes.
This impulse sent from the brain periodically is what helps
the victim to restore the normal condition by restarting the
breathing system and saves the person’s life.
Though this impulse restarts the breathing cycle, it ends up
in the victim experiencing a sleepless night. Though the
victim is many times not aware or does not remember his /
her breathing complications, the condition eventually ends
up in daytime sleepiness.
There are various other key symptoms from which sleep
apnea can be detected. Either the victim’s spouse or a sleep
partner can help in watching out the victim’s sleep activities
and help in diagnosing sleep apnea.
Choking and waking up sweating during sleep are common
symptoms of sleep apnea. Loud snoring as well is a very
common symptom.
Experience of a restless night sleeps leads to feeling unrefreshed
in the morning. Headaches upon awakening,
sleepiness, depression and other personality changes are
also common symptoms.
Victims of sleep apnea can be noticed to be more lethargic in
work than before. They might also experience rapid weight
gain, memory loss leading to poor learning abilities.
Sleep apnea victims are proved to be poor in judging
situations.
A sleep partner can notice these symptoms, measure it and
discuss with a sleep specialist. This would greatly help the
doctor in analyzing the symptoms and diagnosing the
problem.
Sleep apnea can be measured in terms of the loudness of
the snoring. The sleep partner at times can wake up during
night and check the victims sleep status, that is whether he
/ she is sleeping or awake.
A sleep partner who attempts to notice sleep apnea
symptoms should also check the victim’s breathing activities
regularly as they have high percentages of possibilities to
get choked.
A sleep diary or an audio recorder can be effectively used to
record the sleep activities of a person suffering from sleep
apnea.
Sleep diaries can be purchased from any sleep center or can
even be prepared at home. The most important points that
in a sleep diary are as follows:
• The time when the victim goes to bed.
• Number of times he / she wakes up in during sleep
• How loud the victim snores (this can be noted by using
a audio recorder)
• Number of times the victim chokes during sleep
• Number of total hours the victim has slept
• The time when the victim woke up during sleep
• How he / she feels in the morning. This can be found
out by checking the victim whether or not he / she is
feeling refreshed.
Any other points that the doctor or a sleep specialist
suggests can also be included.
These simple sleep tests can also be had in a sleep clinic
where there are sleep experts to conduct these tests. In a
sleep clinic, the victim is observed and diagnosed for sleep
apnea.
Other than having an observation at a sleep clinic, sleep
specialist also physically check the victim’s mouth to
diagnose sleep apnea.
Tests in a sleep clinic are conducted using specialized
equipments as well. Polysomnography is one such tests that
are carried out at sleep clinics to diagnose sleep apnea.
It is used to record electrical activities of the brain, pulse
rate, eye and muscle movement. The respiratory efforts,
blood oxygen carbon dioxide levels during sleep are also
effectively observed from this test. Multiple Sleep Latency
Test (MSLT) is yet another test that is used to measure the
speed of falling asleep at different points during day.
The symptoms noted are associated by sleep specialists and
diagnosed as a particular type of sleep apnea. There are
three types of sleep apnea, viz., (a) Obstructive Sleep Apnea
(OSA), Central Sleep Apnea (CPA) and Mixed Sleep Apnea.
Out of the three, Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA is the
most common one yet most serious one. Victims of OSA
have problems in breathing because of the formation of an
obstruction in their nose and mouth that blocks easy flow of
air through the airway.
Commonly accompanied by snoring, victims of OSA wake up
often during sleep. Victims of OSA experience recurrent
breathing process in which the throat muscles that normally
help during wakefulness relax and close the throat.
As the victim tries hard to breath, due to the vacuum
already created the throat muscles contract more and close
the airway completely.
Differing among individuals, this process cycle might last up
to a maximum of two minutes. The process terminates only
when the victim wakes up. This arousal signal in initiated by
the brain when the carbon dioxide level increases in the
blood.
These cycles can take place hundreds of times during sleep
while the victim may not be aware of the process.
Though the process might sound a bit simpler, the causes
are severe. Based on the severity of OSA a person has, the
condition can be specified as a sure life threatening
condition.
There are increased possibilities for a victim of OSA to have
a heart attack or stroke or even cardiac arrests during sleep.
They are also evident of having major accidents due to
sleepiness while driving.
Due to the restless sleeps they experience, they are
deprived of sleep and seem to face negative consequences
proportional to the severity of OSA.
Central Sleep Apnea is the second type of apnea that is
caused due to delay in receiving brain signals. Though CSA
is not as common as OSA, it is still found in few percentages
among the victims of sleep apnea. This is a type of sleep
apnea caused by the delay in receiving a brain signal that
instructs the person to breathe regularly. Oral, throat and
abdominal breathing all the three cease together in this
case. Mixed Sleep Apnea is the third type of sleep apnea
that is a combination of the two other sleep apneas
described above.
The major cause for sleep apnea is obstruction in the
airway. The main causes that attribute to the obstruction are
overweight or obesity, age, gender (men have greater
possibilities to become a victim of sleep apnea), irregular
sleeping habits, smoking, consumption of alcohol, snoring,
high blood pressure and sometimes heredity.
The above mentioned are the main reasons that pertain to
be the causes in many sleep apnea cases. Though not a
single characteristic can be declared as such to be the exact
cause for sleep apnea but it might be a combination of two
or more attributes.
After diagnosis, it is very essential to start the treatment to
cure the diagnosed patient suffering from sleep apnea.
Genioglossus and hyod advancement is a method of treating
sleep apnea. The surgical process collapses the lower throat
pulling the tongue muscles forward. This surgery opens the
airway by removing or relocating the obstructions.
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is yet another surgical
procedure to treat obstructive sleep apnea. The process
tightens the throat tissues which obviously clears the
blockage on the airway.
Though there are a number of methods to cure sleep apnea,
the cost common and effectively used method is CPAP -
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. CPAP can be adapted
when surgery is difficult or not possible.
CPAP is a marvelous invention of the nineteenth century. Dr.
Colin Sullivan of the University of Sydney in Australia
invented it in the year 1981.
To a layman, CPAP can be defined as a nasal mask that
helps victims of sleep apnea breath better. CPAP delivers air
into the air passage through this nasal mask.
The air in taken through this nasal mask is delivered in with
enough pressure thereby keeping the airway open. CPAP is
considered to most effective way to alleviate sleep apnea, as
it is the only non-surgical methodology used to treat sleep
apnea.
When used correctly, CPAP is found to be nearly 100%
efficient to treat sleep apnea. A victim of sleep apnea can
start wearing this nasal mask after consulting with an ENT
specialist who can advice whether or not CPAP would suit his
/ her physical condition.
As a result of using CPAP, victims would be inviting a new
lifestyle for themselves that might include loss of weight,
adoption of new exercises and quitting smoking.
Usage of CPAP is suggested for a patient only after studying
his / her medical history, current medications, cardio
vascular conditions and their habit of consuming alcohol or
drugs.
As the process does not include any surgical phenomenon, it
is observed and suggested for thousands of patients and is
proved to be almost 100% successful.
However, victims of sleep apnea who have problems wearing
CPAP during travel are suggested to adapt a surgical method
to get rid of sleep apnea. The unit pressure of the CPAP is
set based on the severity of sleep apnea the person has.
CPAP can be used by plugging it into an electrical outlet that
would provide flow of air into the nasal mask. As CPAP is
only a treatment and not a cure, its best effect can be
experienced only when used continuously during sleep.
CPAP is in fact not an easy therapy to adapt. In some cases
the patients are noted to give up when they do not notice
any immediate improvement in their condition.
Few others noticeable factors which tend the patients to give
up are redness caused around the nose, dryness of the
throat and disturbances caused by the tight fitting nasal
mask.
Based on an ENT specialist’s advice, the type of the
treatment can be changed if it is found to be very
uncomfortable to use.
Usage of dental devices is yet another way of treating sleep
apnea. Dentists who are trained in dental appliances for
sleep apnea design these dental devices.
This dental device is specifically designed to treat sleep
apnea. Dental devices are prescribed for mild sleep apnea or
when the patient is able to use CPAP.
The dental device is kept in the mouth at night pushing
forward the lower jaw and the tongue. These devices are
available in two forms: fixed type and adjustable type.
It is noticed that the success rates are higher for adjustable
type dental devices then fixed types. Usage of any dental
devices, fixed or adjustable, might cause swelling and pain
of jaws till they get used to the device properly.
Radio frequency is the latest procedure that is used to treat
sleep apnea. This process used in this procedure includes
shrinking of the tongue or throat tissues using radio
frequency waves.
The throat or tongue tissue is pierced with the help of
electrodes that are connected to a radio frequency
generator. The inner tissues are heated to 158-1760 F that
shrinks the inner tissues but not the outer tissue paving way
for free flow of air. There is no specific success rate noted as
such for this treatment as this is a latest therapy that is not
used commonly.
Untreated and unnoticed sleep apnea might lead to a
number of various other issues like high blood pressure,
weight gain, impotency, memory problems and headaches.
Sleepiness, which is also a sub product of sleep apnea, is
another major factor that has caused a number of accidents
in America and other countries.
Sleepiness is a result of untreated sleep disorder, sleep
deprivation and shift work. The fact is that sleepiness is
equally a risk factor like alcohol, excessive speed, and rash
driving that increases the possibility of accidents.
But this condition is not and cannot be included as a
prohibited condition which one should follow while driving as
it cannot be measured anyway. There is no monitoring
mechanism to measure sleepiness similar to the tests and
mechanisms that are available to measure one’s blood
alcohol level, or the speed at which the person was traveling
at the time of accident.
This makes it difficult to ascertain that sleepiness was
included in the accident. This situation is to the advantage of
the person who can easily deny that he / she was sleepy at
the time of accident.
But besides all this, the fact is that sleepiness offers its
major contribution to vehicle crashes than any other factor
that is counted upon as other factors are well monitored,
controlled and, in excess cases, charged.
This condition can be restored only when people are
educated on the importance of sleep. Not limited to its
importance, they should also be insisted on the fact that
sleep is equally an important factor like diet or environment
that contributes to good health.
Recent research on the issue shows that treatment of sleep
apnea with CPAP - Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
reduces the risk of crashes caused due to sleep apnea.
Yet another tedious sleep disorder is snoring. As it is found
very commonly, we never believe it to be a sleep disorder.
Many of us even believe it to be a habit of certain
personalities but snoring in fact is a serious sleep disorder.
Snoring is a sound created due to some blockage found in
the airway. The victims nose or the mouth can be the source
for the sound creation.
The blockage can either be created in the nose or in throat
due to which the sound is produced. It is true that very
often snoring is considered to be a habit or many a times it
becomes a topic of an entertaining evening when a snoring
friend is around.
But all of us should understand that snoring is a condition
that should not be left untreated. Consider it to be a serious
issue; snoring can be treated in a number of ways.
If a person has a silent sleep it means that he is free from
any blockage in the throat or mouth. The sound is usually
produced by a thin soft palate or the base of one’s tongue
that falls before the throat’s air channel blocking the air.
This tissue or soft palate creates sound by striking against
the walls of the throat and nose. Reactivity towards snoring
should not be lethargic as in many cases it is considered to
be a symptom of many sleep disorders like Acromegaly,
Marfan syndrome and Obstructive sleep apnea.
Snoring can be preventative in its initial stage. Regular
exercise and weight loss greatly contributes to the
prevention of snoring. An immediate effect can be
experienced when slept on the sides rather than on the
back.
Here is a clear picture of what makes a person snore during
sleep. The various components of the human mouth are
themselves the causes of snoring.
The mouthpart consists of the tongue, tonsil, uvula and the
soft palate that then leads to the throat. Teeth are the other
components that cannot be called as a cause for snoring.
Snoring is caused when there is an obstruction noticed on
the airway. The noisy sound is produced when the passage
of the air going through the mouth and nose is obstructed
on their way to the throat.
As a result the components of the mouth (tongue, tonsil,
uvula and palate) strike each other and start vibrating as the
air passes through thereby creating a noisy sound called
snoring.
These causes might take different shape based on the
condition in which the snorer is. Consumption of heavy
alcohol and sleep inducing drugs are a major cause.
The mouth tissues are usually softened when these drugs
and alcohol are consumed. When the muscles are too
relaxed, the tongue falls behind on the airway blocking the
passage of the air to the throat.
Snoring might also result when the tissues of the throat are
excessively bulky.
An excessively grown tonsils is yet another reason. Obese
people usually have bulky neck muscles which block the air
passage during sleep.
Thyroids and tumors are also suspected to contribute to
snoring. A long uvula or a soft palate worsens the condition
as they flutter when the air passes through.
Snoring can even be noticed in normal human beings who
never snore during winter or a fever season. This is resulted
as a blockage in the nose due to cold. In such a condition,
the respiratory system struggles to inhale air. In the
process, a vacuum is created in the throat area which makes
the uvula, tonsil and the palate vibrate.
Snoring should not be considered as something funny as it is
a cyclic condition that leads to a variety of health problems.
It not only deprives the snorer of sleep but also causes sleep
deprivation among their sleep partners. Sleep deprivation in
turn causes daytime sleepiness, low energy, laziness, low
productivity, poor mental health, off mood and slow
reactivity to things.
Higher end effects may be high blood pressure, diabetes,
heart stroke, hypertension and ultimately premature death.
Snoring, both socially and medically, should be considered
serious as they can become the root causes for a number of
long term health hazards.
In addition to disturbing other sleep mates, it also deprives
the snorer of proper sleep.
The best would be to treat snoring at its early stage as sleep
deprivation is found to be the major cause of thousands of
health issues.
Heavy snorers should definitely get the assistance of an
otolaryngologist or an ENT specialist. On analyzing the nose,
mouth and throat in a laboratory it can be determined how
serious the condition is.
Thermal Ablation Palatoplasty (TAP) is the name given to a
group of methods and techniques that are used to treat
snoring and few other aspects of OSA.
Bipolar cautery, laser, and radio frequency are the three
types of methodologies used in TAP. Laser Assisted Uvula
Palatoplasty (LAUP) is a laser treatment used to treat
snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea.
Tiny portions of the uvula and the palate are vaporized with
the help of laser. An otolaryngologist gives this treatment
after treating the patient with local anesthesia.
Another method is Radio frequency ablation that is a process
in which the excess tissues causing the blockage in the
airway are shrunken using a thin needle like electrode.
This needle emits energy that helps to precede the process.
Oral dental appliances can also be used to treat snoring.
There are a wide range of dental appliances which are used
as preventive tools to treat snoring and sleep apnea; some
lower down the tongue and others move the lower jaw
creating a passage for the free flow of air.
Mild snoring can be prevented by the snorers themselves.
Maintaining a well-toned muscle structure can prevent
snoring. Consumption of alcohol, sleeping pills and having
heavy food before sleeping can be avoided.
Above all this, following a regular sleep pattern can greatly
help. Sleeping on the side can also be made habitual, as
snoring is high when one sleeps on his / her back. Yet
another important gender fact noted in snoring is that
snoring is statistically noted to be common among men
rather than in women.
Insomnia is another sleep related problem which has major
effects on the normal life. Insomnia is a condition in which
the patient is unable to sleep or stay asleep for a long time.
Victims of insomnia have inadequate sleep as they have
difficulties falling asleep. Even if they manage to sleep they
will not be able to sleep for a longer time.
They are noted to wake up often during sleep. They usually
have un-refreshed sleep and wake up very early in the
morning.
Insomnia can be deducted by noting down its various
symptoms. Though the symptoms of insomnia might vary
from an individual to the other, there are few common
symptoms that can be made use to identify the problem.
An obvious symptom of insomnia is the difficulty that the
victims face to fall asleep. In extreme cases, it might also
take 45 minutes to an hour in their attempt to sleep.
Major causes of insomnia include, stress, anxiety, fear and
drugs like caffeine. Extreme pain, over activity of the brain
and age also contribute greatly to insomnia.
Reports prove that insomnia increases as the age increase.
It is also proved that more than 30% of men and more than
40% women are affected by increased percentages of
insomnia as their age increases.
Stress and fear factors can be put forward as reasons for the
difference in the percentages. As women normally undergo
more stress, anxiety and fear when compared to men, the
possibilities of women to be victims of insomnia is greater.
There are three different types of insomnia viz., (1)
transient, (2) acute – short term and (3) chronic insomnia.
Transient insomnia is a common type of insomnia that
everyone must have experienced at least once in their life
time.
This type on insomnia lasts for one night or utmost for few
weeks. It persists only for a short duration as normal human
beings have stress and anxiety that might put off their sleep
for a small duration.
But as their problem is restored the condition as well
vanishes. Acute or short term insomnia is the second type of
insomnia that continues for a period of two to three weeks
time. This is also called intermittent insomnia as the
condition occurs from time to time.
The thirds or the last type of insomnia is chronic insomnia.
Though rarely found it is considered to be real serious
condition of all the three types of insomnia. The basic cause
of insomnia is depression.
A distinct line cannot be drawn among the causes, as it is
always a combination of more than two are three mental or
health issues. They might be sleep apnea, heart problems,
menopause, asthma, restless legs syndrome, kidney disease
and hyperthyroidism.
Other behavioral causes like consumption of over doses of
caffeine, irregular sleep patterns that can be noticed in night
shift workers and stress are as well few major causes of
insomnia.
A victim of insomnia can said to suffer either from primary
or secondary insomnia. Primary insomnia is common which
nothing is but sleeplessness not caused due to be any
medial or environmental problems.
Secondary insomnia is a condition that should be examined
and considered serious. Secondary insomnia is in many
cases found to be a cause of some health problem. Causes
of insomnia should certainly be discussed in detail, as they
are conditions to be noticed and treated at the earliest.
Some of the common causes of insomnia include sleep
apnea as one of the causes. As sleep apnea is already
discussed adequately, lets move on to the next major cause
that is Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS).
This is a peculiar condition in which the victim experiences a
power urge to move his / her legs. The urge is noticed to be
so powerful that the victim tingles his / her legs suddenly.
As an attempt to get themselves relieved from this restless
sensation, victims normally move often in the bed. This
rapid movement results in restless night sleep and
sleepiness during day.
Jet lag is another cause of insomnia that is known to many
of us. But still would like to give you a briefing about the
subject. Jet lag is a condition that is experienced by people
who travel frequently across time zones. The contradiction
between the difference of the daylight in various countries
and the internal body set-up cause restlessness resulting in
insomnia.
Parasomnia is yet another major cause that is a combination
of a variety of sleep disorders. REM behavior disorder,
sleepwalking and nightmares are considered to be a part of
parasomnia.
Sleepwalking is also a serious sleep disorder that has also
proved itself dangerous in many cases. This disorder as well
will be discussed in detail in the forth-coming sessions.
Insomnia can also be a side effect of some medications,
mental illness, emotional threats, stress, free and
depression. An unbelievable fact also proves the possibility
of acquiring insomnia based on genetics. This type of
insomnia is named Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI) but it
should also be mentioned that it is very rarely found.
This is a brain disease caused by the mutation of a protein
called prion protein (PrP). The mutation changes the
chemical bondage and changes the shape of PrP. This results
in amyloid plaques in the thalamus and disrupts the normal
condition.
As thalamus is the region of the brain that is responsible for
sleep, the disruption affects the sleep pattern as well. First
resulting in insomnia, the condition worsens as the victim’s
age increases.
The problem progresses to be more serious and the onset
starts sometime between the ages of 30 to 60. The condition
noticed in this type of insomnia is that the victim lives no
longer than three years after the onset is reached.
Common symptoms of FFI are intractable insomnia,
dementia, paralysis and in some cases hyperthermia and
hypertension is also noted.
Similar to other prior diseases and as the name reads, Fatal
Familial Insomnia as well is a fatal disease and is incurable.
Age old and latest researches are all going on attempting to
invent a drug to cure FFI.
There are a number of treatments that are adapted to treat
insomnia. Many consume sleeping pills and sedatives to cure
insomnia. Many others make use of herbs like chamomile,
lavender and passionflowers.
Aroma therapy as well is found be a very relaxing treatment
of insomnia. Various other traditional methods are to have a
cup of warm milk before going to bed, getting up early in
the morning, doing rigorous exercise in the afternoon and
having a warm bath in the evening.
Though not proved scientifically, these traditional methods
are definitely found to be very relieving. Quite good
percentages of the insomnia victims have found these
therapies to be effective. Having a heavy lunch and a mild
supper also helps cure insomnia.
The basic fact behind insomnia is that it shows its worse part
only when the sleep pattern is changed. This condition can
be overcome if the mind is kept relaxed especially in the
evening. A stress free mind can definitely change the
situation thereby inducing sleep in the patient.
Few other points that can be taken care of while handling
insomnia:
• Avoid having dairy or other products with high calories
before sleep.
• Avoiding or if possible stopping the use of any type of
caffeine may help.
• The sleeping place should be dark and noise free.
• Listening of mild music can also help.
• Avoiding day sleep.
• Depression being another main cause, this can as well
be set away before.
• Listing out the work to be done the next day greatly
helps as it relieves the victim of the fear of forgetting
some important work.
• Sexual activity can also induce sleep due to the
secretion of some special hormones.
A lot of similar remedies can be listed that has proved
records of relieving victims of insomnia.
Sleepwalking as well is a serious sleep disorder that many
times is dangerous for health. Sleepwalking is a condition in
which the victim starts walking during sleep without the
knowledge of his / her conscious mind.
Sleepwalking can affect people of any age and class.
Statistical records show that greater percentage of children
to be affected by sleepwalking or somnambulism.
It has also revealed that boys are more likely to sleepwalk
than girls. Sleepwalking is a Rapid Eye Movement (REM)
behavior disorder that occurs during the dream stage of a
victim.
Based on different platforms, sleepwalkers perform different
activities that vary from eating, washing, dressing till driving
and in extreme cases murdering.
The activities of sleepwalkers cannot be predicted as it
differs based on the victim’s emotional levels and also the
type of dream they might be having during the situation.
Sleepwalkers are always dangerous to themselves and
others as they are predictive on what they would do during
their sleepwalking. The condition worsens as the victims are
not aware of what they are doing (the activities are
performed without the control of the conscious mind) and for
the same reason the condition is dangerous.
Few common symptoms of sleepwalking are stress, fatigue,
anxiety, difficulty in arousing the sleepwalker during an
episode and amnesia after an episode.
Sleep is characterized with a number of different sleep
stages. REM sleeping a different stage during which the eye
balls move more rapidly under the eye lids and also are
prone to have dreams.
Sleep cycles takes place rapidly during sleep changing from
REM to non-REM stages. Sleepwalking mostly occurs during
the non-REM stage that is during early night or during the
REM stage that might occur during early morning.
The sleepwalking episode might vary from a few seconds or
minutes to more than 30 minutes or more.
Common misconception that many of us have is that we
should not awake a sleepwalker during an episode.
Sleepwalkers should of course be awaken if they are in
danger.
Nothing spectacular takes place when the sleepwalkers are
awakened but they definitely feel embarrassed and guilty of
their activity. Sleepwalking can be treated with a number of
medications and allopathic treatments but the most common
treatment used to treat sleepwalking is hypnosis and it has
also proved to be successfully on short-term basis.
Sleepwalking can be prevented or self treated by making
arrangements to get plenty of rest, having a more relaxed
mind before going to bed, if possible meditating or doing
some exercise that might rest your mind in peace.
Home mates of a sleepwalker should as well take care of few
points that might turn to be dangerous for the sleepwalkers
during their episode.
It is preferred to have the sleepwalker’s room in the ground
floor of the house. This would reduce the greater possibility
of the sleepwalkers being rolled down the stairs. Small such
measures taken by the home mates might definitely help the
sleepwalker from being hurt.
The fact is that sleep disorders are limited to what we have
discussed in this detailed report. Sleep disorder can be
called a huge ocean that has hundreds of different disorders
in it.
In some cases it is also possible to notice a combination of
two or more disorders together. Being all interrelated; it is
difficult to draw clear lines between them.
However, whatever the sleep disorder is, it should never be
overlooked or under estimated. Sounding simple sleep
disorders might also have hazardous effects in the later
stages. So it is advisable to consult a sleep specialist at the
earliest stage to have the disorder diagnosed and treated.