Sleep disorders
January 12, 2009
There are many sleep disorders that people have. Some can even be fatal, like Familial Insomnia. They can cause people to fall asleep while having conversations, meals or even while operating heavy machinery.
An estimate says that 40 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. Sleep disorders are more than making you drowsy or snoring. They can cause high blood pressure, and even heart disease.
There are several sleep disorders, from the most common ones to some rare ones. If you are in doubt about you or somebody you know having a sleep disorder, read on to find out more about them, because if you do not identify it, you will not be able to treat it.
Sleep Apnea
You might have heard some guys snore louder than a vacuum cleaner, or maybe you are one of them. While it can be irritating for others around you, it is also a symptom of a potential life-threatening condition, sleep apnea.
In this condition, muscles of the upper part of the throat relax so as to block the airways of people having a narrower passage, thereby starving the heart and brain of oxygen.
Symptoms include gasping for breath in the night, which can last for up to 45 seconds, headaches, absentmindedness, increased heart rate and memory loss, which can ultimately result in heart failure or stroke.
This condition is more common among overweight men, so losing weight often cases alleviation of the condition. If you consult your doctor, he may guide you with various treatments.
Sleepwalking, sleepeating and night terrors
In 1987, a man who had murdered his in-laws was acquitted because he was considered to have done it in his sleep. Sleepwalking affects 10% of the adult population and 17% of children, mostly boys. It is termed somnambulism. Generally, if you are sleepwalking, you may follow a routine of getting dressed or undressed, or simply stroll about in the house.
Sleepeating starts with the usual sleepwalking but ends up near the fridge. These people actually are sleeping when they eat and do not realise it until they see the empty cupboards in the morning.
Night terrors are terrors in the night. The person may bolt upright in the bed and even dash out of bed and down the hall as if running from some kind of danger. However, they seem to forget what they were running from.
Such people should be taken to the hospital for treatment. However, you need to take care that they do not injure themselves on these night adventures.
Narcolepsy
This debilitating disorder has born the brunt of many a sitcom jokes. However, it is no joke. Narcoleptics often fall asleep while talking or even eating. They are tired most of the time and they tend to doze off at any given moment. They also drop off because they experience a sudden loss of muscle control.
If you are noticing these symptoms, see your doctor. Ritalin and Dexedrine are often prescribed for this disorder. Antidepressants are also used at times.
Insomnia
This is the most known sleep disorder and most of us have experienced it at some point or another. Sleep loss can affect our problem-solving skills, alertness and sex drive. In simple words, it makes you dumb, angry and depressed.
If your insomnia is temporarily caused by jetlag or stress, it will sort itself out. However, long term insomnia is tricky. Most of the drugs for treating it tend to be addictive and so doctors hesitate to prescribe them.
You can avoid it by following a sound routine, an exact time to go to bed, avoiding alcohol, sleeping in good conditions and good temperature room and avoiding too much excitement and exercise before sleep can work magic for you.
Fatal Familial Insomnia
This is the most serious of all types. The same bad protein that causes the mad cow disease is responsible here also. It is genetic and it affects the thalamus. It kills that part of the thalamus which is responsible for blocking sensory input during sleep. As a result, the patient is alert all the time. Even drugs can’t put him to sleep.
The worst thing about it is that it cannot be treated, as a cure has yet to be found for this disease. However, the breather is that it is very rare.
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