Sleep disturbances - Invigorate Medical

Sleep Disturbances

Sleep disturbances refer to problems with the quality, timing, and amount of sleep and wake cycles. There are many types of sleep disturbances that can negatively impact health, productivity, and quality of life. Some common examples include:

• Insomnia: Difficulty falling or staying asleep. Insomnia can stem from stress, underlying medical conditions, medication side effects, or poor sleep habits. Symptoms include difficulty falling asleep at night, waking up frequently, and feeling unrested in the morning.
• Sleep apnea: Brief pauses in breathing or instances of shallow breathing during sleep. This reduces oxygen levels and repeatedly arouses the body from deep sleep. Common signs are loud snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness.
• Restless leg syndrome (RLS): Unpleasant crawling or tingling sensations in the legs when lying down to sleep. Moving the legs relieves the discomfort but makes it hard to fall asleep. RLS can be hereditary and may worsen with age in some individuals.
• Narcolepsy: A disorder causing extreme daytime sleepiness and "sleep attacks" where people fall asleep suddenly and involuntarily during the day. Other symptoms are cataplexy (loss of muscle tone from emotion), sleep paralysis, and hallucinations while falling asleep or waking up.

Consistent poor sleep negatively impacts concentration, memory, mood, immune function, and even metabolism. It increases risks for hypertension, obesity, diabetes, depression, heart disease, stroke, and accidents.

Diagnosing the root causes of sleep disturbances allows targeted treatment. Lifestyle changes like maintaining a regular sleep-wake schedule, reducing evening screen time, avoiding large meals before bed, exercising regularly, and managing stress help many individuals. For more complex cases, sleep specialists may recommend cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), medications, oral devices, or even surgery for conditions like sleep apnea.

The earlier sleep disturbances are addressed, the better. If you regularly feel unrested during the day or have any concerns about your sleep quality or habits, consult with your healthcare provider. Getting enough high-quality sleep pays dividends for wellbeing and functioning.