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Sleep disorder

When a person's sleep patterns are not proper due to medical reasons, it is known as a sleep disorder. Polysomnography is a test that studies such disorders in humans. Some of the types of sleep disorders are insomnia, narcolepsy, sleepwalking, etc.

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Types

‘Sleep disorder is a condition that thwarts a person from getting peaceful sleep. Any kind of alteration in the quality, quantity and pattern of sleep can result in sleep disorder. It can result in daytime sleepiness and dysfunction,’ says Dr Prachi, Clinical Psychologist, Delhi based Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute.

Dr Prachi explains the most common types of sleep disorders:


  • Insomnia 

  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

  • Narcolepsy

  • Restless Legs Syndrome: In this sleeping disorder, the patient feels an intense and often an uncontrollable urge to move the legs.  They may experience a tingling or aching sensation in their leg that occur just before falling asleep that creates this urge.


Other less common sleep disorders include:

  • Sleepwalking

  • Parasomnia: In parasomnia, a person has disrupted sleep.  It occurs during arousals from REM sleep or partial arousals from non-REM sleep.

  • Sleep paralysis: This condition makes a person unable to move while sleeping

  • Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD): This condition is characterized by intermittent limb movement while the person is asleep.

Causes

Sleep problems can be caused by various reasons:


  • Stress: Chronic stress that leads to depression can affect the sleep pattern and cycle resulting in insomnia.

  • Medical condition: Pain due to an underlying medical condition can affect sleep quality

  • Age:  As we grow old our sleeping cycle is altered such that we tend to spend most of the night in light stage of sleep cycle rather than deep sleep.

  • Medication: There are several drugs known to interfere with sleep cycle. These include hypertension medicines, antidepressants and some over-the-counter pills

  • Lifestyle: People who have bad eating habits, stay awake at late nights, work in night shifts are more prone to sleep disorders.

  • Genetics: Narcolepsy and sleep walking are among some sleep disorders that are found to be inherited with some genetic basis.

Diagnosis

Symptoms are specific to the type of sleep disorder you’re suffering from. But in general, you should visit a specialist if any of these symptoms are bothering you.


  • Constant irritability during the daytime

  • Feel fatigued and sleep even after sleeping for 8 or more hours

  • Your family members complain about your snoring

  • Difficulty in staying awake when sitting still

  • Difficulty in falling asleep (more than a month)

  • Difficulty in concentrating or focusing

  • Lowered reaction or reflex action

  • Difficulty in controlling emotions

  • Feeling of depression

  • Jerky limbs while sleeping

  • Night time sweating

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of sleep disorders is based on the type of disorder you’re suffering from. Here are some diagnostic tests used to diagnosed specific sleep disorders


  • Polysomnography: It is a sleep study, where electrodes are wrapped around different parts of your body with the help of bands and different tests to monitor brain waves (electro-encephalography EEG), muscle tone (electromyography EMG), heart rate (electrocardiography (ECG) and breathing are carried out to asses you while sleeping.

  • Sleep latency test: This test is performed analyses how long does it take for you to fall asleep.

  • CPAP titration study:  In this test, the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is determined in overnight study for the treatment of OSA.

Treatment

‘There are numerous sleeping disorders with their own potential causes. And, if you’re diagnosed with a sleeping disorder, there is nothing to worry about because there are a variety of treatment options available to choose from,’ says Dr Prachi.

Sleep disturbances, poor quality of sleep and insomnia are mainly treated with sleeping pills.

Medication


  • Benzodiazepines are frequently used to treat insomnia

  • Excessive day time sleepiness is treated with amphetamines to induce day time alertness

  • Restless leg syndrome may be treated with dopamine agonists

  • Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the gold standard for the treatment of sleep apnea.  It applies positive pressure through a nasal mask to hold the upper airway open throughout the breathing cycle                   


Non-pharmocological treatment

‘In major cases, behavioral therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive therapy, relaxation techniques, sleep hygiene and stimulus control as well as surgical options like tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, jaw surgery or uvulopharyngoplasty (UPPP) take charge of correcting the sleeping disorders,’ says Dr Prachi. 

Prevention

There are few precautionary measures that might help in dealing with sleep disorder such as -


  • Sleep at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning without taking any naps in the middle of the day.

  • Avoid any caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol intake late in the day.

  • Avoid exercising close to sleep time.

  • Avoid heavy meal late in the night.

  • Follow a routine that would help in relaxation and wind up before sleep.


To further prevent sleeping disorders, one must make certain modifications in their lifestyle through regular exercising, practicing good sleeping habits and a healthy diet. 

 

The content has been verified by Dr Prachi, Clinical Psychologist, Delhi based Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute.

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