A sleep disorder is a serious problem with a person’s regular sleep habit that may influence their ability to carry on with daily routine. To ensure your sleep disorder does not affect your life, treatment must be sought. The most common sleep disorders include sleeplessness, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, somnambulism and sleep terrors. People with sleep apnoea may stop breathing for some time while sleeping, their body experiencing oxygen deprivation. Patients with narcolepsy may fall asleep all of a sudden during the day, even while performing a hazardous task. Sleepwalking and night terrors are more frequent in young children. Sleeplessness is by far the most frequent sleep disorder of all, with over 60% of adults in the USA likely to suffer from it at least once a week.
The most common symptoms of sleeplessness include daytime sleepiness, unrefreshing sleep, difficulty falling asleep, waking up frequently during the night and concentration problems. Sleeplessness occurs due to any of the following frequent reasons: medical conditions, depression, being overstressed, GERD, poor sleeping conditions and so on. Using certain drugs can contribute to sleeplessness too, especially those used for treating high blood pressure, pain, allergies or colds, heart problems and depression. Sleep deprivation because of insomnia can lead to difficulty concentrating, a serious illness or feeling depressed.
The treatment is determined by the cause of the problem and has to be adjusted to the patient’s needs. The most common treatment methods involve changing your lifestyle and using prescription medications to help you get some rest. Lifestyle and behavior adjustments commonly involve taking advantage of special bedtime rituals and routines to improve sleep quality and be able to fall asleep without having to take medications. Sound sleep hygiene is another very important aspect of increasing the quality of your sleep. You are supposed to use the bedroom for resting and having sex, rather than watching TV shows and working on your computer. It’s crucial that you have a special bedtime routine and a solid schedule so that your body would get plenty of rest during the time it should. Another important aspect is to create comfortable sleeping atmosphere that would be dark and cool enough to go to sleep without the risk of waking up because of some loud noises. You should avoid eating any food about four hours before bedtime, all the exercise you need during first half of the day and keep a diary to record your progress or discover what you may have done wrong.
Some patients are likely to benefit from relaxation exercises, special therapy intended for helping them think positively, being more active physically and trying to avoid daytime naps. In some cases, however, you will have to take special sleeping drugs like Ambien for a short time. Using any sleeping medications you may be prescribed will make it possible for you to rest, while other options recommended will become a long-term solution to your problem.