What is sleep disturbances?
Sleep disturbances are problems like insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome that affect the ability to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. These common issues disrupt sleep quality and quantity, leading to daytime fatigue and impaired function.
Some key facts about sleep disturbances:
- Insomnia is difficulty falling or staying asleep. It affects 10-30% of adults and makes it hard to function the next day.
- Sleep apnea causes breathing to stop briefly while sleeping, often due to airway obstruction. It results in restless, non-restorative sleep.
- Narcolepsy is overwhelming daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep “attacks.” People with narcolepsy lack orexin, which regulates the sleep-wake cycle.
- Restless leg syndrome involves uncomfortable sensations and an urge to move the legs while sleeping. It interrupts sleep onset and continuity.
What causes sleep disturbances?
The causes vary but often include:
- Stress, anxiety, depression
- Chronic pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia
- Neurologic disorders like Parkinson's disease
- Heart disease, acid reflux, asthma
- Medications, caffeine, alcohol
- Aging, hormonal changes
- Disrupted circadian rhythms from shift work
How are sleep disturbances treated?
Treatments depend on the specific sleep disorder:
- Insomnia may be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy, sleep hygiene, relaxation techniques, and short-term use of sleep medication.
- Sleep apnea is treated with CPAP, oral appliances, surgery, weight loss, avoiding alcohol, and sleeping on your side.
- Narcolepsy is treated with stimulant medications, scheduled naps, good sleep hygiene.
- Restless leg syndrome is treated by addressing underlying causes, using leg massages, vibration therapy, and medications.
If you struggle with poor sleep, consult your doctor or sleep specialist for an evaluation. An overnight sleep study can diagnose issues like sleep apnea. Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes, therapy, sleep aids, or other interventions to improve your sleep quality.
For hormonal causes of sleep disturbances, consider contacting Balance Hormone Clinic. Their expert physicians can evaluate hormone levels with blood tests and create customized bioidentical hormone therapy to optimize sleep and health. With individualized treatment plans, Balance Hormone Clinic can help patients achieve deep, restful sleep. Contact them today for a consultation!