What You Should Know About Sleep Disorders

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What You Should Know About Sleep Disorders - By: MIKE SELVON, Posted on: 2008-03-01

Everyone suffers from an occasional nightmare or sleepless night, but millions of Americans suffer from extremely severe sleep disorders that can negatively affect their health if left untreated. In fact, ninety-five percent of people suffering from such a disorder remain undiagnosed.

This staggering number means that a huge population of people aren't getting the treatment they need. In this article, we'll talk about sleep disorders to help you decide if you need medical help.

There are over one hundred different types of its disorders that can be classified into four categories. Insomnias include difficulty falling and staying asleep. Narcolepsy and apnea are examples of disorders that prevent people from staying awake. People suffering from jet lag or those who have trouble sleeping because of shift work are having a disturbance in their sleep/wake cycle.

People who experience sleepwalking or enuresis are experiencing interruptions associated with behavioral problems. Any condition in which your sleep doesn't follow the typical phase cycle or doesn't stay in each cycle for a sufficient period of time is a disruptive disorder.

Those who have disrupted sleep tend to not experience "restorative sleep." Sleep deprivation can make you irritable, tired, have less focus, a lower frustration level, and can lead to exhibiting behavior that's more emotional and impulsive. One dangerous fact about sleeping disorders is that they weaken the immune system and make us more susceptible to other diseases like diabetes, cancer and even the common cold.

It is not uncommon for people who suffer from its deprivation due to disorders such as apnea, narcolepsy and insomnia to also suffer from other problems including diabetes, asthma or a second sleep disorder.

When gaining insight about sleep disorders, you will find that no one is immune. Many elderly people suffer from insomnia and often have to be put on medication for the condition. Some of the common disorders that affect children include night terrors, nightmares and bedwetting. Nearly seventy percent of women report that they suffer from some type of sleep disorder.

Similarly, over forty percent of women admit that daytime sleepiness disrupts their daily activities. Although menopausal and pregnant women are far more likely to suffer from such a disorder, women are two times more likely than men to experience a malady of this kind.

A restless night can result in more than just daytime sleepiness, so it's crucial to seek medical attention if you aren't sleeping for an extended period of time. Your doctor can provide a wealth of treatment options or refer you to organizations that know more about sleep disorders. No matter which course of treatment you choose, your quality of life will definitely improve once you start getting some quality shut eye.

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