Sleep Disorder Overview

types of sleep disorders awake at night

Sleep disorders are a highly common medical issue that affects millions of Americans each year. While some people suffer from mild sleeping problems, such as the occasional nightmare, others have extremely severe sleep disorders that can negatively affect their health if left untreated.In fact, 95 percent of people suffering from a sleep disorder remain undiagnosed. This staggering number means that a huge number... Read more >

Causes

causes of sleep deprivation woman awake in bed

Causes of sleep deprivation can be divided into four broad areas: lifestyle, health complications, medication side effects and clinical disorders. Finding out the cause of your sleep disorder is important because it will determine the type of treatment you need. For example, while those with lifestyle habits that affect their sleep will simply need to alter their lifestyle, those on medication or people who suffer... Read more >

Effects

effects of sleep deprivation man yawning

Sleep deprivation can have serious effects on your health in the form of physical and mental impairments. Inadequate rest impairs our ability to think, handle stress, maintain a healthy immune system and moderate our emotions. In fact, sleep is so important to our overall health that total sleep deprivation has been proven to be fatal: lab rats denied the chance to rest die within two to three weeks. Find out... Read more >

Treatments

sleep disorder treatments woman asleep on couch

If you suffer from a sleep disorder, getting treatment is important to maintaining good health. However, because the causes of sleep deprivation are so vast, including physical disabilities, lifestyle choices and emotional disorders, it may be hard to identify exactly what is disrupting your sleep.In diagnosing you, your doctor will likely perform a series of tests and ask you about your... Read more >

Herbal Sleep Aids

With stress of our daily lives, being able to relax at night can be a difficult task. While many choose narcotic sleep aids to cure insomnia, herbal sleep aids can also help without as many of the associated side effects or interaction with other medications. These less-invasive options are generally suggested before the use of prescription medications.Considering Herbal Sleep Aids If you've spoken to your... Read more >

Sleep Deprivation Survey

NCERx recently asked people about their attitude toward, and awareness of, sleep deprivation. Over 4000 people, during a one-year period, responded to questions regarding the factors that affect their sleeping habits and their methods of obtaining a more restful night’s sleep. Only 19 percent of respondents suffered from a diagnosed sleep disorder however 74 percent of the total respondents indicated that they... Read more >

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a complex neurological problem in which the body can't properly regulate its sleep cycles. While those suffering from narcolepsy have periodic, intense urges to sleep throughout the day, at night, they may experience insomnia and other related sleep disorders. Causes of Narcolepsy Sleep experts believe narcolepsy is the result of a disease that affects the parts of the brain that regulate REM... Read more >

Types of Insomnia

The various labels associated with different types of insomnia vary with the causes and duration of the sleep disturbance. Primary insomnia and secondary insomnia depend on the causes of sleep insomnia. Acute, intermittent, and chronic insomnia describe how long different types of insomnia last. Primary Insomnia Primary insomnia is unrelated to other medical conditions. Insomnia is not considered a disease... Read more >