Sleep Disorders
Sleep is absolutely essential for normal, healthy function. Scientists and medical professionals do not fully understand this complicated, necessary, physiological phenomenon. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, about 40 million people in the United States suffer from chronic long-term sleep disorders each year and an additional 20 million people suffer occasional sleep problems.Not sleeping well leads to a whole range of memory problems. During your sleep cycles is when the brain “consolidates” your memories. If you nightly sleep is too short, these memories don’t form completely, leaving room for memory gaps and even false memories.
Nightmares, night terrors, sleepwalking, sleep talking, head banging, wetting the bed and grinding your teeth are kinds of sleep problems called parasomnias. There are treatments for most sleep disorders. Sometimes just having regular sleep habits can help.
Sleep disorder symptoms
Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for feeling refreshed and alert during the day Did you know that the average adult needs eight hours of uninterrupted sleep every night in order to maintain optimal mental and physical health? Unfortunately, not everyone is able to get the restorative eight hours they need. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, over 40 million Americans a year will suffer from some sort or sleep disorder - many whom will go undiagnosed, or turn to over-the-counter sleep aids for relief.
Insomnia: A Symptom, Not an Illness
Insomnia, the most common sleep complaint, is the feeling that you have not slept well or long enough. It occurs in many different forms. Most often it is characterized by difficulty falling asleep (taking more than 30 to 45 minutes), awakening frequently during the night, or waking up early and being unable to get back to sleep. With rare exceptions, insomnia is a symptom of a problem, and not the problem itself. Good sleep is a sign of health.
Early Awakening
Waking too early may represent a rebound from use of alcohol at bedtime or even from certain types of sleeping pills. It is also a symptom of depression. Some people sink into depression gradually, and feeling blue eventually becomes a chronic way of living. Others focus on poor sleep, telling themselves and others, “Life would be much better if only I could get a decent night’s sleep.”
General principles of treatment
Medications and somatic treatments may provide the most rapid symptomatic relief from some sleep disturbances. Some disorders, such as narcolepsy, are best treated pharmacologically. Others, such as chronic and primary insomnia, may be more amenable to behavioral interventions, with more durable results. Special equipment may be required for treatment of several disorders such as obstructive apnea, the circadian rhythm disorders and bruxism. In these cases, when severe, an acceptance of living with the disorder, however well managed, is often necessary.
How to Sleep Better
From having occasional difficulty sleeping to insomnia, there is a lot you can do to get a better night’s sleep, feel refreshed when you awake, and remain alert throughout the day. It’s called “sleep hygiene” and refers to those practices, habits, and environmental factors that are critically important for sound sleep. And most of it is under your control.
