Sleep and health go hand-in hand, with insufficient sleep being associated with chronic diseases, depression, motor vehicle accidents and occupational accidents. It is important to understand and be aware of the causes and symptoms of sleep disorders.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 50 to 70 million American adults have sleep or wakefulness disorders. Sleep plays an important role in our overall well-being. Getting the right amount of sleep and good quality sleep helps protect both our physical and mental health.
Studies show that during sleep our brain is forming new pathways to help us process, learn and remember. When we have had a good night’s sleep we are able to pay attention, make decisions and be creative. The opposite occurs when we experience one or more type of sleep disorder. With sleep disorders we have more trouble making decisions and solving problems. We also find it more challenging to control our emotions and behaviour. Coping with change can be really hard, too.
From a physical point of view, sleep heals and repairs our heart and blood vessels. Chronic sleep disorders have been linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, diabetes and stroke. There is no denying that sleep disorders affect health, which is why it is important to learn the different types and how they can be treated.
The different types of sleep disorders
When you hear the term “sleep disorders” you likely think of insomnia; however, there are actually over 100 different types of sleep disorders, all of which disrupt people from having the kind of rest necessary to restore the body.
Here is a look at some of the most common types of sleep disorders that Americans suffer from.
We all have them from time-to-time, but some people have them regularly. They can involve immediate awakening, and in some cases, especially for children, it can be difficult to get back to sleep.
This sleep disorder occurs when people act out their dreams. They move their limbs or may even get up out of bed. Some talk, shout, sing, hit or punch others.
- Non-24-hour sleep wake disorder
People who are diagnosed with this have cyclic insomnia and/or daytime sleepiness. The problem appears to be related to the lack of synchronicity between the 24-hour day-night cycle and the internal body clock. This is referred to as a circadian rhythms disorder. Circadian rhythms are what regulate our natural sleep and wake patterns.
- Shift work disorder
Many of us know or have even experienced this – our body clock getting mixed up due to changes in our shifts at work. Switching from sleeping at night to sleeping during the day can be difficult. This is also a circadian rhythm disorder.
- Excessive daytime sleep disorders
This group of disorders includes narcolepsy, which is a neurological disorder caused by the brain’s inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles, as well as obstructive sleep apnea which causes breathing to be briefly and repeatedly interrupted during sleep. Extreme sleepiness during the day can occur for other reasons aside from narcolepsy and sleep apnea.
This is considered a sleep disorder because for some people it can cause fragmented sleep, thus causing sleepiness during the daytime.
How sleep disorders affect your health
Over the last decade a lot of research has been conducted on the impact of sleeplessness, and while some are considered observational, few medical experts will deny that sleep disorders affect health.
The Institute of Medicine (U.S.) Committee on Sleep Medicine and Research analyzed a number of sleep studies a few years back and concluded that sleep disorders were a real “public health” problem. They indicated that less than seven hours of sleep per night could have wide-ranging effects on the cardiovascular, immune, nervous and endocrine systems. Here are some problems they have been able to link to lack of sleep:
- Diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance
- Cardiovascular disease and hypertension
- Alcohol use
Although studies have looked at all aspects of sleep and health, a g