Common sleep disorders and how you can cure them

A good night’s sleep is essential for good health and wellbeing of a person. Sleep deprivation can lead to not only various medical problems but it can also severely diminishes the quality of life of an individual. Common sleep disorders are the primary reason for sleep deprivation in a good number of people. There are many disorders that can be classified as sleep disorders. Some are common others are rarer, some are acute others are severe; some are chronic whereas others are temporary. Various sleep disorders can result in difficultly in sleeping, disturbed sleep, frequent and irregular sleep-wake patterns, bad quality of sleep and much more. Adults require 8 hours of solid sleep each night; short-term sleep deprivation can lead to issues such as mood swings, tiredness, drowsiness, reduced alertness and more. But in the long-term it can lead to serious issues such as weakened immune system, reduced life span, diabetes, hypertension, weight gain, impaired brain functions and accelerated aging. Sleep disorders can affect anybody irrespective of age, gender, social background and more. There are many reasons that can cause various sleep disorders; the foremost of them being stress, other factors that affect sleep negatively are excessive caffeine intake, hectic schedules and lifestyle including late working hours, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, physiological disorders and more.

Most Common Sleep Disorders
There are a total of 81 sleep disorders identified by experts. Some common sleep disorders are insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, sleep walking, sleep terrors, snoring, narcolepsy, nightmares, bedwetting, teeth grinding and more. Below are some details on some common sleep disorders.

Insomnia: Insomnia is the most common sleep disorders found in the general population today. Individual affected by the said condition have difficulty falling and then staying asleep. Insomnia can be an illness in itself or it can be a symptom of some other sleep disorder. Insomnia is roughly divided in to temporary insomnia and chronic insomnia. Temporary insomnia can last for few days, weeks of months whereas chronic insomnia is a more permanent condition.

Sleep Apnea: Sleep apnea is another common sleep disorder. Sleep apnea is a serious condition in which the person is unable to breath during sleep and thus the brain is denied oxygen. Sleep Apnea is divided in to obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea happens due to physical blockage whereas central sleep apnea occurs due to inadequate respiratory effort. Sleep apnea can be mild, moderate or severe, time duration of each bout of breathlessness can last from few seconds to few minutes and the frequency can range from once a night to around 50 times a night depending upon severity of the condition.

Sleep Walking and Sleep Terrors: Although more prevalent in children both sleep walking and sleep terrors can affect a person of any age. Sleep walking happens due to inability of the brain to control and regulate sleep cycles. On the other hand sleep terrors or night terrors are a condition in which a person gets extremely frightened or violent in his or her sleep. Both sleep walking and sleep terrors are mostly associated with psychological causes or some medication. Genetics is also a major cause of these sleep disorders.

Tips to Sleep Better Naturally
Some sleep disorders require professional help and medication. For other less severe conditions an individual can achieve relief through practising simple dos and don’ts and cultivating some good sleeping habits. Firstly follow the basics, don’t consume caffeine, tobacco, chocolate during late evenings and night time, also have a light dinner instead of a heavy one. Alcohol is another no-no; high sugar intake can also have a negative effect on a good night’s sleep. If an individual is on some medication then he should consult a professional and ensure that the said medication is sleep-friendly. Don’t ignore conditions such as snoring and sleep apnea; obesity can be a reason for snoring hence a cause for sleep disruptions. Quit using electronic gadgets such as cell phones, laptops, LED TVs and more at least a good 2 hours before your sleep time. Regular exercise and a warm glass of milk can also help you sleep better each night.