The International Classification of Sleep Disorders lists around 90 distinct sleep disorders, says the National Institute of Health. That's alot to cover in one blog post, so let's stay with the most prevalent and those that pose a significant risk to your health and well being.
Did you know that about 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep problems?
Which means that many of us suffer or have suffered from injuries associated with lack of sleep, not to mention the chronic diseases and illnesses caused by sleep problems.
But more than that, sleep loss is also associated with effects on mood and behavior. This means
you can experience an excess of mental distress, depression and anxiety. Sometimes this problem can even lead to more serious mental health conditions.
So how can I tell if I do have a sleep disorder? Ask yourself these questions:
Do you wake up gasping for breath during the night?
This could be due to a serious condition called sleep apnea.
Has your partner told you that sometimes your breathing stops during sleep?
Just like gasping, sleep apnea can cause people to have short periods where they actually stop breathing! This is of course a very significant health problem and you should consult a medical professional immediately.
Do your legs move rapidly when you are asleep?
Restless Leg Syndrome or RLS, is what we generally call this and can significantly affect our normal sleep habits. Sometimes you are not even aware that you are doing it so ask your partner.
Do I snore loudly?
Nearly everyone snores now and then, but for some people it can be a chronic problem. Sometimes it may also indicate a serious health condition.. And can be very annoying to your partner!
Do you get up frequently to use the bathroom to urinate?
This is called nocturia and can be caused by high fluid intake and bladder obstruction, and obviously can cause sleep problems. A worse case scenario might include hypertension or diabetes.
Do you often wake up and feel like you haven't slept at all and feel run down and exhausted?
Sleep inertia is common among most people. For me, its that period of morning when I have to have my morning coffee and go through the process of going from dreams to a real awake person. But, if this feeling lingers throughout the day, then there is a real problem with your sleep pattern or worse, a physical condition that is draining your energy levels.
Am I so tired that I fall asleep when I should be awake, even at work or caring for my children?
Narcolepsy is always a concern but not necessarily the problem as it really is a rare condition I've not seen very often. All the issues listed above and many more can be the cause of feeling this way. To give you an example of how lack of sleep and drowsiness can affect your life- it is reported that getting less than 6 hours of sleep can make you 3 times as likely to have a motor vehicle crash. That's a scary stat considering how much time we spend either commuting to work or chauffeuring our kids around!
As I noted earlier in this blog post, with almost a hundred specific sleep disorders, its impossible to give you more that a handful to consider. As always, you can find more information from top sources on our resource page. Sleep disorders can greatly affect your well-being and can have severe consequences for you and your family if not treated.
Final note- take care of yourself and take getting a good night's sleep seriously. Consider how you can adjust your pre-bedtime patterns by consuming less alcholol, sugary and caffeinated beverages and try reading instead of watching TV or swiping through your favorite social media apps.
For more information about sleep disorders, check out related posts on our blog page at 307midwife.com.
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