reat deal of data has been collected in relation to sleep and weight. One study showed that by age 27 people with less than six hours of sleep were 7.5 times more likely to have a higher body mass index (BMI) than those who got much better sleep. Family history, diet and levels of physical activity were taken into consideration.
Sleep disorders don’t just impact the people who are having trouble sleeping. For example, lack of sleep could lead to an innocent person being killed in a car accident, if a sleep deprived person gets behind the wheel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that each year drowsy drivers are responsible for about 100,000 automobile accidents, 70,000 injuries and 1,550 fatalities.
Poor quality sleep can result in a poor quality of life. Psychologists report that many people who suffer from sleep disorders are unable to participate in physical activities or maintain their attention, such as watching a movie or seeing their child play in a soccer game.
Symptoms of sleep disorders and how to spot them
It would be hard to find anyone who has not had trouble sleeping at some point in their life, but chronic sleep problems and constant sleepiness during the day could mean you have a sleep disorder. Because we live in such a fast-paced society – where we are rushing to meet personal goals and demands from others – we can miss the early symptoms of sleep disorders.
The following are some of the signs that mean you could have a sleep disorder.
- Constantly taking more than 30 minutes to fall asleep
- Having to take frequent naps during the day
- Waking up in the middle of the night and remaining awake for hours
- Fatigue and irritability during the day
- Difficulty concentrating at work or school
- Falling asleep at inappropriate times, including when sitting up
- Loud snoring, breathing and/or gasping noises while sleeping
- Waking up too early
- Needing a stimulant like coffee to keep you awake during the day
- The urge to move your legs or tingling and crawling feeling in legs at bedtime.
- You have mysterious symptoms such as constant pain that keeps you awake
- If you nod off during everyday activities like driving or reading
If you think you have any of the symptoms of sleep disorders listed above, you should speak to your doctor immediately. Some sleep experts say the sooner the problem is addressed, the easier it is to resolve and the less damage there will be to your health.
Causes of sleep disorders
There is not always an easy solution to problems surrounding sleep. There are a number of causes of sleep disorders; medical conditions, including fibromyalgia, low thyroid function, and joint problems like arthritis can cause sleeplessness. Mononucleosis or other viral illnesses also disturb sleep. As outlined above, sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, sleep apnea and REM behaviour disorder can also cause the problem. When no cause for sleeplessness can be determined, it is called “idiopathic hypersomnia.”
For some people, sleeplessness can happen simply because they do not stick to a regular sleep schedule. This is the case with people who work shift work and those who travel between time zones.
Stress is one of the biggest causes of sleep disorders. According to the National Sleep Foundation, stress causes hyperarousal. This can upset the balance between sleep and being awake. However, this doesn’t mean that everyone with a high level of stress suffers from insomnia.
How to prevent sleep disorders
While having difficulty sleeping can be frustrating, there is light at the end of the tunnel, or should we say, there is dark at the end of the day so you can get some shut-eye. Thinking about your sleep habits can help to prevent sleep disorders. The list below offers some tried and true suggestions for people who suffer from sleep disorders and are looking for relief.
- Try to go to sleep at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning.
- Don’t take naps during the day since they make you less tired at night.
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine late in the 