Adults as well as children often have sleep problems. Some that adults might suffer from are insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome.
Let’s define sleep. Sleep is more than taking a break from a busy schedule or resting. Sleep is an important part of our physical and emotional health. Sleep also helps the body recover quicker from injury and illness. Someone not getting enough sleep report having trouble performing tasks that involve memory, learning, logical reasoning, and math calculations. Even just a few nights of not getting your needed sleep can cause stress in your life and make you less productive. Severe insomnia results in psychiatric problems in some people.
Loss of sleep can be dangerous, strain relationships, and cause you to lose your concentration on your job. Three facts from the National Transportation Safety Board about sleep:
An estimated $15.0 billion dollars is what it costs businesses for sleepiness and lost productivity.
At least 100,000 police-reported accidents in the United States are because of drowsy drivers.
The sad one is, 40 million Americans suffer sleep disorders, and most of them go undiagnosed.
How much does your body need? That will be different for everyone. Most adults need an average of 7-8 hours each night if they are healthy. If you have trouble staying alert during monotonous activities or have a tendency to be unreasonable and irritable with family, friends, or co-workers, you need more sleep. If you have trouble concentrating or remembering facts, it’s another signal you body needs more sleep.
There are at least 84 sleep disorders that interfere with our quality of life and personal health. Some of these problems range from irregular sleep patterns, sleepwalking, nightmares, and insomnia. Other problems are restless legs syndrome, snoring, and sleep apnea.
There is help for those suffering from sleep disorders. Sleep problems can be caused by different disorders in various body systems. These disorders can be treated by different medical specialties such as neurology for narcolepsy and pulmonary medicine for those suffering from sleep apnea. A doctor can help you decide if you have a sleep disorder and the treatment you need for it.
Insomnia is one of the most common sleep problems for adults. Insomnia is defined as having difficulty falling asleep, waking up often through the night, waking up too early in the morning, and not feeling refreshed when you wake up in the morning. Insomnia can occur from one night to a few weeks, episodes that happen sporadically and severe insomnia lasting a month or more.
What are the causes of insomnia? Several causes of insomnia including anxiety, depression, pain, illness, irregular schedules, and drugs (including nicotine and alcohol products.)
There are ways to help sleep problems. One of those is to keep regular hours, go to bed at the same time each night, and get up at the same time in the morning. Go to bed only if you feel sleepy and do relaxing things before you go to bed. You can read for 10 minutes, take a warm bath, or have a light snack.
Exercising regularly will also help but only if you don’t exercise at least six hours before your bedtime. Exercising stimulates the body and the brain. Maintaining a regular schedule for all of your regular activities will keep your “inner clock” running on time.
Don’t have anything to eat or drink with caffeine within 5-6 hours before bedtime. Try not to smoke close to bedtime, and if you do take naps during the day, try to take them at the same time every day, preferably in the mid-afternoon.
Insomnia and other sleep disorders can be treated. If you suffer from insomnia more than just a few days, make an appointment with your doctor to find the underlying cause.
Restless Legs Syndrome or RLS can also be something that will disrupt your sleep. Usually it’s described as a creepy, crawling, and tingling feeling usually in the calf area. It can occur anywhere from the thigh to the ankle. When they feel those feelings in their legs, they have an urge to move whichever leg is being affected. Sleep problems often go with RLS because it makes it difficult to fall asleep when you are experiencing those feelings.
No one knows for sure what causes Restless Legs Syndrome. Diabetes, kidney problems, and alcohol abuse are believed to irritate RLS. It also could be hereditary or be a result of a nerve being pinched in the lower back.
Consult your doctor if you are having sleeping difficulties. They will be able to find out what sleep disorder you have, and suggestions on how to deal with it.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Sleep Disorders
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
One of the most exhausting conditions that affect adults with anxiety disorders is post-traumatic stress disorder. This condition usually follows someone who survives a physical or emotional event that was terrifying to him or her.
Brought to the forefront by our veterans, it was often called “shell shock” or “battle fatigue.” It’s been found to occur in both men and women who have had serious car accidents, survived a natural disaster, bombings, a plane crash, or violent personal attacks. Abuse in childhood also can cause post-traumatic stress disorder. How severe the disorder will be is determined by the length and severity of the event that caused it.
Post-traumatic stress disorder can be triggered by an event that happened in the person’s life, in the life of someone close to him or her, or something they witnessed. Many citizens of New York have been treated for PTSD after the events on 9/11. PTSD has already appeared in those who were affected by the devastating hurricanes that occurred in the South.
People who suffer from PTSD will have extreme emotional, mental, and physical distress if they are placed in a situation that reminds them of the event. Some may relive the situation repeatedly in the form of nightmares, or “flashbacks” during the day. Other symptoms may include sleep problems, easily startled, and have problems feeling loving and affectionate. Depression, a constant jittery feeling, or a feeling of being numb or detached from your surroundings is also signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. Anyone suffering from this disorder also stay away from places or situations that bring back bad memories and are sometimes more aggressive, irritable, or even violent.
These symptoms can also be found in other anxiety disorders so it is important to talk to your doctor for a diagnosis. Post-traumatic stress disorder will only be diagnosed if the symptoms have lasted longer than a month. It usually starts about three months after the event happens, but has been known to occur years after a traumatic event. Some will not be able to remember the event unless they are in therapy. Many block out events until something later brings the memories to the surface.
This disorder can occur at any age, including childhood. Depression, substance abuse, and anxiety are signs of PTSD. Some will recover in six months, for others, it may be a much longer period.
What is the treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder? Treatments will vary from person to person according to their medical history, overall physical health, and age.
The extent of how the disease has progressed is something else to consider. Your doctor should also understand your tolerance for specific medications and your preferences. Someone with PTSD is also susceptible to other anxiety disorders such as substance abuse and depression. Treatment is critical and can include medication, therapy, relaxation techniques, and biofeedback. Antidepressants or medications for anxiety are used and psychological treatment both may be used to fight this disorder.
In this era, mental disorders do not carry the stigma they did in previous generations. It is common now for people to admit to taking antidepressants or having therapy. Support groups have sprung up that help them get through the recovery period. Some of the most successful programs are based on the 12-step program from Alcoholics Anonymous.
If you or someone you love is displaying any of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, try to get them to a medical professional. This disorder can lead to severe drug or alcohol abuse, depression, and even suicide. Emotional support from family and friends can help those who suffer from PTSD.
Treatment is available to all that need it. Veterans, if you are suffering from PTSD go to local veterans office. If you can’t afford to get the proper therapy or medication, contact your local mental health agency. State funded programs are available for those who qualify as low-income and don’t have a large income.
If someone you love suddenly is extra irritable, have violent outbursts, have trouble with socializing, and working, find them some help. If they are having flashbacks when they hear different sounds, smell some odors, or have feelings the event can happen again, they need help to work through the event and get better. Medication can help but finding the underlying cause of the trauma may be the most helpful in handling post-traumatic stress disorder.
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