What is a sleep disorder?
Sleep disorders consist of a variety of psychological disorders and alterations related to the act of sleeping which negatively affect the quality of life of people who suffer from them since the normal development of the biological sleep-wake cycle is highly affected.
It should be noted that, if not getting enough sleep continues over time, it can lead to health complications as it causes significant cognitive decline.
Sleep disorders are not a serious condition, but it must be taken into account that they can have negative implications in daily life since they interfere with people’s physical, mental, and emotional performance.
What are the most common sleep disorders?
Below are the most common sleep disorders.
Insomnia
Insomnia affects approximately 25% of the population. We could define insomnia as the inability to fall asleep and/or to stay asleep all night. This means that people are sleepy during the day and their daily life is affected.
Sleep apnea
It is characterized by a pause in breathing during sleep. However, this is short-lived and the person resumes normal breathing, usually with a loud snore. In most cases, it is a chronic disorder that affects the REM phase of sleep.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a neurological disease that focuses on a brain abnormality that modifies sleep mechanisms. It is characterized by sudden episodes of sleep during waking hours, being able to fall asleep for 2 or 5 minutes anywhere: while talking, driving, walking, studying, etc. The person goes directly to the REM phase of sleep without going through the previous slow waves.
Behavioral disorders related to slow waves and REM sleep
During the slow wave phase, some people may experience behaviors such as sleepwalking, nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting), or night terrors.
However, during REM sleep we are completely paralyzed physically. If this were not the case, our own bodies would act out the dreams we have and, in some cases, lead to injuries due to the body’s inability to control what we are doing.
What are the symptoms of sleep disorder?
Symptoms vary depending on the severity and type of sleep disorder. For this reason, the most common ones are presented below:
Daytime fatigue.
Difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep.
I need to sleep during the day.
Unusual breathing patterns.
Lack of concentration.
Depression and/or anxiety.
Unusual movement while sleeping.
Involuntary changes in sleep-wake schedules.
Irritability.
Difficulty carrying out daily obligations.
Weight gain.
How are sleep disorders treated?
It is worth noting that the origin of sleep disorders is very varied, as there are cases that appear as a consequence of other diseases. For this reason, the type of treatment may vary depending on the type and the underlying cause. Normally, in cases where sleep disorders are due to psychological factors, treatment by a psychologist is beneficial.
Psychotherapy is the most effective way to address the triggers of sleep. In this way, the goal is to restore the conditions that disrupt sleep and thus achieve an automatic sleep-related process.
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