8 most common Sleep disorders that plague adults

In this busy life we all lead, sleep is one of the most important factors, combined with exercise and nutrition, that keeps us going. To ensure that we can accomplish everything we do every single day, we must get a good night sleep. Eight hours of uninterrupted sleep is the best scenario, but unfortunately it is an impossible target for about one third of the population. Several sleep disorders plague about 30% of the population, all over the world.

REM sleep behaviour disorder is extremely rare and consists of intense movement during sleep. The affected person could suddenly trash about in their sleep and even fall off their bed on occasion.

Narcolepsy occurs when the brain does not control the REM sleep cycle appropriately. This causes a person to fall asleep at the most peculiar moments or spend their days in some kind of daze; stuck in an in-between state where they are neither fully asleep nor fully awake. Bruxism, or teeth grinding is not only annoying for the people sleeping near the affected person, it has significant side effects. The person who grinds their teeth during their sleep will generally wake up with a sore jaw and severe headaches. This condition can be helped with the use of a mouth guard, but the underlying cause of stress should be identified to help the person reach better sleep.

Sleep terrors and sleep walking, although different, are generally more frequent in children. Sleep terrors manifest themselves with the person screaming in their sleep and waking up terrified, having a deep feeling of fear and danger. Adults suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could also experience night terrors. Sleepwalking occurs when a person is walking about while not fully awake or conscious. It is generally due to fever, lack of sleep, or medication.

RLS or restless leg syndrome is a sleep disorder that reaches more than the legs. The affected person has an uncontrollable urge to move the limbs over 100 times during the night. Fortunately, the condition can improve with regular physical activity and diminution of caffeine absorption.

The last two disorders are the most frequent, affecting a large percentage of the population. Sleep apnea can be found in 10% of the population. It happens when a person’s airways, in the throat, get obstructed, therefore preventing the affected person from breathing properly. The brain then signals the person to wake up to re-open the obstructed airway. Far from ideal, this condition can cause side effects such as high blood pressure and constant tiredness. Someone suffering from sleep apnea might not be aware of their condition, but their loud snoring is sure to have been noticed by their partner.

Aside from losing weight, a good solution to this condition is the use of a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) device such as ResMed machines that push air through your throat, forcing it to remain open. Finally, insomnia is the most common of all sleep disorders and can be caused by stress, anxiety, depression as well as drug or alcohol abuse. A person suffering from insomnia might have difficulty falling asleep or might wake up during the night and not be able to get back to sleep. Aside from medication, cognitive behavioral therapy might be necessary to resolve the problem.     

For more detail on each disorder, consult the articles provided by the sleep foundation. Because of the seriousness of sleeping disorders, it is important to consult a sleep doctor if you or someone you know suffer from one of the conditions mentioned in this article. Trying to solve the issue on your own might prove more problematic in the long run. Don’t delay and contact your sleeping expert rapidly.

This is a guest blog entry.