An overview of sleep disorders in adults – Part 5

“To sleep perchance to dream” Here’s the rub, sweet dreams coming from a restful and restorative sleep seem to elude most people. More than a fifth of all adults will experience sleep problems at one stage of their life. Sleep problems can range from insomnia, snoring, obstructive sleep apnoea, narcolepsy, night terrors, restless leg syndrome and sleep walking.

Insomnia

Laying awake staring at the ceiling, might give you time to think, but when the clock starts ticking into the wee-small hours of morning and you haven’t had a wink of sleep to restore your tired body and mind, insomnia leaves you feeling fractious.

Stress, too much caffeine, jet-lag, shift work can all contribute to your inability to sleep. Medications, therapy or developing a good sleep regime can all reduce your chance to get insomnia. By going to bed at the same time every night, having dinner early, reducing caffeinated or alcoholic drinks, relaxing or taking a warm bath can all improve your ability to get a good nights sleep.

Snoring

A sound of a violent storm is heard when one stores. The turbulence is caused by a blockage anywhere between the vocal cords and the nose. As the muscles of the tongue, throat and soft palate relax, the snoring gets louder and more intense.

Obstructive sleep apnoea

Obstructive sleep apnoea is where the throat muscles relax and block the airway briefly, which stops breathing and deprives the body of oxygen.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a bizarre condition where a person can fall asleep instantly at any time during the day or night. This is caused by a malfunction in the sleep/awake regulating system of the brain.

Night Terrors

Night terrors usually occur once only during the first couple of hours of sleep compared with nightmares which are continual and happen during the later hours of sleep.

Restless Leg Syndrome

As the name suggests, “Restless Leg Syndrome” is where the legs become uncomfortable when they are in a state of inactivity. A person will want to move their legs or rub them to relieve the uncomfortable feeling they are experiencing.

Sleep Walking

Sleep Walking usually occurs in children and is a condition that is usually out-grown. However, a traumatic event, like a death, can cause adults to sleep walk for many years until the issue/stress is dealt with.