About 36% of adults don’t get enough of the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Are you one of them?
Sleep deprivation leaves you feeling tired and has serious consequences for your overall health, increasing the risk of conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, and even mental health issues.
Many people with sleep problems don’t realize they might have an undiagnosed sleep disorder. Symptoms like trouble falling asleep and waking up feeling exhausted are often shrugged off to stress or poor habits. However, they could be indicators of common sleep disorders like insomnia or sleep apnea.
Recognize the signs you might have a sleep disorder. This blog will shed light on common symptoms and your options for sleep disorder treatment.
Sleep disorders often go unnoticed because their symptoms can be mistaken for everyday stress or fatigue. However, persistent issues like chronic tiredness, difficulty sleeping, or unusual nighttime behaviors could be warning signs of a deeper problem.
Feeling excessively sleepy during the day, even after getting what you believe to be seven to nine hours of sleep, is a significant red flag. Constantly battling daytime sleepiness or struggling to stay awake during the day could be a sign of an underlying issue like hypersomnia or sleep apnea.
Additionally, chronic fatigue affects energy levels and overall health and interferes with daily functioning. You may find yourself fighting to stay awake during meetings, lectures, or even while driving, hindering productivity and increasing the risk of accidents.
If you frequently find yourself tossing and turning at night or waking up multiple times, you might be dealing with insomnia. This difficulty falling asleep can stem from racing thoughts or a general sense of restlessness that keeps you from drifting off.
Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep can disrupt your sleep–wake cycle, leaving you sleep-deprived and impacting your physical and mental health. Also, frequent urination and chronic pain may contribute to difficulty falling asleep.
Loud snoring, gasping for air, or episodes where you stop breathing during sleep are primary signs of sleep apnea. This serious condition disrupts breathing during sleep and reduces sleep quality.
These symptoms shouldn’t be ignored, as untreated sleep apnea increases your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and other health conditions. If your bed partner notices such signs, it might be time to consult a sleep specialist.
Poor sleep affects the body and mind. Sleep deprivation has been linked to brain fog, irritability, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating. These symptoms affect performance at work or school, strain relationships, and damage overall well-being.
Sleep disorders come in many forms, each with its own set of symptoms and underlying causes. Recognizing the signs you might have a sleep disorder and understanding these conditions help you identify whether you are dealing with a true sleep disorder.
Insomnia affects about 33% to 50% of adults, making it one of the most common sleep disorders. It refers to difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early and unable to go back to sleep. It can be caused by poor sleep hygiene, stress, anxiety, or underlying health conditions like depression or chronic pain.
Consuming caffeinated drinks late in the day or having an irregular sleep–wake cycle can also contribute to insomnia. These lifestyle factors can lead to chronic sleep deprivation and negatively impact your overall health.
Sleep apnea refers to repeated pauses in one’s breathing during sleep. There are two types: obstructive sleep apnea, where breathing stops because the airway is obstructed or too narrow, and central sleep apnea, where there is an issue with the connection between the brain and the muscles controlling your breathing.
Risk factors include obesity, hypertension, and a family history of the condition. Untreated sleep apnea leads to heart disease, daytime sleepiness, and other health conditions. Treatment often involves continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy to open the airways.
Restless legs syndrome is a condition causing an irresistible urge to move the legs repeatedly due to an uncomfortable crawling or tingling sensation. This sensation typically worsens at night, making it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep.
The exact cause of RLS is unknown, but it’s often linked to iron deficiency, pregnancy, or chronic diseases like diabetes. RLS can severely disrupt sleep quality, making you tired and irritable during the day.
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder affecting the brain’s ability to regulate the sleep–wake cycle. It results in excessive daytime sleepiness, causing people to suddenly fall asleep during the day, even during activities.
Other symptoms include cataplexy or sudden loss of muscle control, sleep paralysis, and vivid hallucinations when falling asleep or waking up. Narcolepsy is often caused by a lack of hypocretin, a brain chemical that regulates wakefulness. While there’s no cure, medications and lifestyle changes can help manage symptoms.
Improving your sleep quality doesn’t have to be complicated. Making small, actionable, consistent changes to your daily habits and sleep environment can create the ideal conditions for restful, restorative sleep.
Establishing a consistent sleep–wake cycle improves sleep quality. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day—even on weekends—helps regulate your body clock and makes it easier to fall and stay asleep.
You should get seven to nine hours of sleep every night. A relaxing pre-bed routine, such as a warm bath or reading, can signal the body that it’s time to sleep.
Your bedroom helps promote quality sleep. To create a sleep-friendly environment, keep your room cool, dark, and quiet. You can also use blackout curtains and earplugs to block out distractions during sleep.
Your mattress and pillows must be comfortable and supportive, and your bedding should help regulate your body temperature. If you share your bed with a bed partner who snores loudly or moves frequently, these adjustments can help minimize disruptions.
Caffeine and electronics are two of the biggest culprits for disrupting sleep patterns. Caffeine, found in coffee, tea, and energy drinks, can stay in your system for hours, making it harder to fall asleep. You should refrain from drinking caffeinated beverages when it’s already at least six hours before bedtime.
Similarly, the blue light emitted by gadgets interferes with your body’s production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep. Limit screen time at least an hour before bed, and use a blue light filter if you must use electronic devices.
Sleep problems aren’t just a nuisance—they can indicate underlying health conditions that require medical attention. Here’s a checklist to determine when to consult a sleep specialist.
Once you’ve consulted a sleep specialist, they may recommend one or more of the following sleep disorder treatment options:
Persistent trouble falling asleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, involuntary leg movements, and mood fluctuations are not just everyday nuisances—they’re warning signs you might have a sleep disorder and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Prioritizing your sleep health means investing in your overall health. Unresolved sleep problems can lead to severe conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diminished mental health. Seek professional help as soon as possible if you think you might have a sleep disorder.
Visit Transperity Medical Providers for a comprehensive evaluation and personalized sleep disorder treatment. Contact us for a consultation today!
