| National Sleep Awareness Week: March 31 through April 6 By Amy Tobolski |
The following are some common sleep problems and their explanations:
Snoring: snoring occurs when there is a partial blockage of the airway; it has been linked to increased blood pressure and may be a sign of sleep apnea.
You or others have observed that you stop breathing or gasp for breath during sleep: observed pauses in breathing, often accompanied by snoring, are a symptom of a serious condition called sleep apnea. These breathing pauses reduce blood-oxygen levels, straing the heart and cardiovascular system, and contribute to daytime sleepiness.
Feel sleepy or doze off while watching TV, reading, driving, or engaged in daily activities: sleepiness during the day or at times when you expect to be awake and alert is a sign that you may be suffering from sleep deprivation, a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea or narcolepsy, or another treatable medical condition. Daytime sleepiness puts you at risk for driving drowsy, injury, and illness, and can significanly impair your mental abilities, emotions, and performance.
Have difficulty sleeping three nights a week or more (e.g. trouble falling asleep, wake frequently during the night, wake too early and cannot get back to sleep, or wake un-refreshed): experiencing any of these insomnia symptoms a few nights a week is not a normal sleep pattern. Untreated insomnia is a risk factor for the onset of depression and can jeopardize your emotional outlook, social relations, and sense of well-being. The toll of sleep loss can also affect your health, your safety, and your performance in all areas of life.
Feel unpleasant, tingling, creeping feelings or nervousness in your legs when trying to sleep: these feelings in your legs indicate that you may have Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), a neurological movement disorder characterized by a strong urge to move the legs and difficulty falling and staying asleep.
Interruptions to your sleep (e.g. nighttime heartburn, bad dreams, pain, discomfort, noise, sleep difficulties of family members, light, or temperature): disruptions compromise both the quantity and quality of sleep and keep you from experiencing continuous, restorative sleep so necessary for performance, safety, and health. They can be caused by an acute or chronic medical condition, a bright, noisy, or uncomfortable environment, or awakenings caused by other people. Determining the causes of any sleep disruptions will help you and your doctor determine the best treatment.
Following a few simple guidelines and changing a few bad habits can do wonders for troubled sleep. Your doctor can help identify the best sleep hygiene routine for you, but here are some basics:
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