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 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 >
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 >
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 >
Though medication and prescription drugs are designed to help with specific problems, they can often have negative side effects. Medicine can disrupt the normal balance of the body and lead to a disruption in sleep or insomnia. Even sleeping pills can have a negative impact on restful sleep.
Medications that Cause Insomnia
Many people have no idea that medication can alter and interfere with sleeping patterns... Read more >
While many people have the occasional problem falling or staying asleep, those with insomnia suffer from a chronic condition that can manifest itself in a series of ways. Experts suggest that if your lack of a good night's sleep interferes with your daytime routine for one month or more, you may suffer from insomnia. In these cases, see your doctor to determine the cause of and treatment for your... Read more >
Parasomnia arousal disorders cause partial wakefulness during deep sleep, or during stages three and four of the sleep cycle. Dreams are not associated with these stages, so people who sleep walk or suffer night terrors are not acting out their dreams.
Sleepwalking
Sleepwalking, or somnambulism, is perhaps the best-known arousal disorder. Sleepwalkers are usually children, although the disorder can occur in... Read more >
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which the sufferer stops breathing for brief periods of time during sleep. Treating sleep apnea is important, not only to provide individuals with a good night's sleep but also to protect them from the disorder's long-term effects, which include stroke, heart attack, weight gain and depression.
Types of Sleep Apnea
There are two types of sleep apnea:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea... Read more >