Common Sleep Disorders

A sleep disorder is a highly disruptive condition that affects the life of an individual from many perspectives. People may be thinking that they suffer from a sleep disorder when they are simply unable to fall asleep. Yet, not everyone who thinks they have a sleep disorder actually has it. For instance, a temporary sleep problem may be the result of a stressful upcoming event or even a cold, and in these cases we cannot say that one is suffering from a sleep disorder. Read on and find out when you may be suffering from a sleep disorder and when should you address your symptoms to a specialist.

Common sleep disorders include insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea and even snoring. Whereas some of these disorders are more severe and disruptive than others, they all interfere with the well functioning of the individual during the day. Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders as specialists estimate that nearly every individual will develop it at some point in their lives. Insomnia can be both chronic (on the long term) and acute (on the short term) condition. Insomnia is characterized by the individual’s inability to get good quality sleep and thus it interferes with his functioning during the day. Insomnia can be caused by a wide variety of factors including a stressful life, jetlag or poor sleeping habits. The good news is that insomnia is highly treatable no matter if it is chronic or acute. The only requirement to get the sleep that you need when suffering from insomnia is to consult a specialist that could guide you through the best treatment alternatives. In most cases, individuals who have developed insomnia will carry on self help techniques and cognitive behavioral therapy which will help them get a better sleep. Medicated treatment is also an option for insomnia sufferers but it should be considered as a last resort.

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder which is however not as common as insomnia. Narcolepsy is caused by a neurological problem consisting in the lack of the brain chemical that regulates sleep and which is known under the name of hypocretin. Narcolepsy causes severe symptoms in terms of making sufferers feel extremely sleepy. In serious cases narcolepsy may even cause individuals to instantly fall asleep. The main treatment used to provide patients with relief consists in a combination of therapy, behavioral treatments and medications.

A sleep disorder in general terms makes life very difficult for those who develop them. An individual needs about 8 hours of good quality sleep during the night and when they are unable to do so for a prolonged period of time, the repercussions on the quality of life of the sufferer are tremendous. Luckily, a sleep disorder is treatable in most cases with the help of a specialist and patients do not have to live with this burden.