Sleep Disorders : Sleep Disorder

Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder. It can have a devastating impact on one’s emotion, physical, occupation and social life. While it occasionally can be seen in the clinical setting as a primary diagnosis, it most often presents as a comorbidity to a medical or psychiatric issue;

Sleep can be simply defined as "a reversible behavioral state of perceptual disengagement from and unresponsiveness to the environment" (Kryger, Roth & Dement). As far as the sleeping disorders are concerned, they involve the difficulties that are associated to sleeping. When an individual has difficulty in falling or staying asleep, falling asleep at wrong times, falling asleep unnecessarily, or shows other abnormal sleep behaviors, he/she is said to have a sleep disorder.

Sleep is a vital component to sustaining life in humans. Even though everyone participates in sleeping, many individuals do not understand the true significance of sleeping, and what benefits and consequences come with too much or too little sleep. Sleep comes in different stages throughout the period of rest, with some stages being more important than others. By interrupting various stages, different types of problems can arise from which stage is being affected. In particular, elder adults are affected in larger numbers to a more extensive depth of issues. “However, aging does not mean elders should encounter sleep disorders; it merely increases the possibility that more elders will seek help to manage the problem” (Song, Hollenbeck, Blair, Schatzkin, Chen. 2012. p.316) By understanding possible causes for sleep disorders, what kinds of physiological effects this has on the aged anatomy, and the types of problems that appear in the psychological aspect, it becomes achievable to begin working towards reversing complications and promoting elder sleep health.

The two most common causes of sleep disorder is central and obstructive sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is when our breathing is interrupted throughout the night because your brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs with blocked airways and your struggle to breathe triggers coughing or snoring – in actuality your body is grasping for air.

Studies have shown that daytime drowsiness, reduced alertness, and diminished intellectual performance is the result of poor sleep quality and shortened duration of sleep (Badran, Yassin, Fox, Laher, & Ayas, 2015). Moreover, it has been documented that disturbances in sleep and shortened duration of sleep can have negative effects on quality of life (Badran et al., 2015; CDC, 2013). Furthermore, without exception, sleep is vital for the brain and body to relax and repair itself for the purpose of functioning adequately (Jackson, Redline, & Emmons, 2015). Several epidemiologic research studies have linked untreated sleep-disordered breathing to several negative health and safety repercussions, including the increase threat of diabetes, depression,

I know that personally, I take sleep for granted. Having the ability to lie down after a long day and close my eyes, knowing that in the morning I will wake feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, is something that I haven’t really thought twice about. From reading this chapter, I have learned that many individuals are not so lucky. Sleep-wake disorders can affect a person’s life in tremendous ways. This broad category is broken down into two more specific categories – Dyssomnias and Parasomnias.

Sleep disorders is one of the pivotal behavior in modern times when shortage of time for oneself is often the case with everyone. The problem is far more chronic when the patient has a condition of ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). The article sums up this condition, its effect on sleep and its remedy through different medications. The article describes that sleep disturbance can be divided into four categories which are; Initiation Insomnia, Restless Sleep, Difficulty Waking and Intrusive Sleep. Then articles discuss different theories from respected psychiatrists like Myron Brenner and Thomas Brown on the causes of this type of sleep disorder. Articles progresses with a explaining different ways to remedy the situation like using bed for sleeping and not thinking bout the problems of life, sticking to a vigorous routine of sleeping as well

Many disorders and diseases can result from abnormal sleeping patterns that are triggered from sleep deprivation. The most common forms of sleep disorders include insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy (NINDS 10). All of these sleep disorders begin from sleep deprivation and can be managed once they are diagnosed correctly. According to Urban, “Nervousness, dizziness, and sleeplessness may occur”, as a result of sleep deprivation (1). This proves that the slightest health changes can occur if sleep deprivation becomes a problem. According to NINDS, “The disorders and the resulting sleep deprivation interfere with work, driving, and social activities” (10). This shows that the effects of being sleep deprived can drastically change one’s everyday

A sleep disorder is a concerning illness for parents of infants and toddlers. According to research, most sleep disorders emerge in the first years of life. A sleep disorder is determined when sleep patterns do not match the average number of nocturnal sleep, daytime sleep and duration of nocturnal awakenings. Characteristics of a sleep problem include sleep latency longer than 30 minutes, disturbances in nighttime awakenings, and need of parental presence when put to bed (E. Fazzi et al., 2006).

Sleep disorders have always surrounded me through family and friends. though I never suffered with any sort of sleeping disorder, I was well aware of how unnerving it can be toothless who suffer from it. I did not know all of the different types there were, and was intrigued when reading chapter three of my psychology book. I had assumed that nigh terrors, which I used to think were the same as nightmares, were over exaggerations of a person’s scary dream. Sleepwalking also held interesting facts that I didn’t know prior. Having a best friend who occasionally sleepwalks, I was always interested in why she would seldom remember both walking and talking. I also appreciated learning about sleep apnea because my father used to struggle with it and would worry my mom about his breathing when he was asleep.

The first and most researched sleep disorder is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea does not affect children as often as it effects adults, but it is still a rising concern. Sleep apnea occurs in about 2 per cent of children, mainly between the ages of one through eight. But it can also show up in older children and even infants. (Klein). Research says that young blacks are more at risk than young whites. (Fritz p 83). Children with sleep apnea briefly stop breathing many times during the night due to an obstruction in the respiratory tract. Most of the time it is related to enlarged tonsils and adenoids or to obesity. As the child will gasp for there breath during sleep, they awaken for a few moments to regain there normal breathing and then they immediately return back to sleep. Because the child will be awoken by this many times during the night, this cause sleep deprivation. (Common Sleep Problems AA). The physical symptoms of sleep apnea are excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring, restless sleep, heavy and irregular breathing, excessive perspiring during the night, bad dreams, sleeping with there mouth open, sleeps in strange positions, morning headaches, learning problems, excessive irritability, depression, changes in personality, difficulty

Sleep disorders are common among many people. A sleep disorder is defined as consistent sleep disturbance that interferes with daytime functions and cause the subject distress. Insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea and narcolepsy are just few common sleep disorders. Adequate sleep is important for a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. Seven out of ten people experience regular sleep disruptions (Thorpy, 2005 p.154).

Some of you may be thinking, what are sleeping disorders? Sleeping disorders are categorized into four different groups: the people who have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, the ones who fall asleep at the wrong times, people who sleep too much, and people who have abnormal behaviors while sleeping. The most common types of sleeping disorders in teens is that they have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. This is because a teens natural sleeping pattern would be to fall asleep at 11 p.m.(National Sleep Foundation), so when they try and to go to sleep early, it is very hard to fall asleep. Also, teens have very irregular sleeping patterns because of school, work, and other extracurricular activities.

At night, you lock the house down, tuck the kids into bed, clean your home, and you might even finish some last minute work. I bet you never thought about the things that can happen at night. As we kiss our children goodnight, our favorite line is “Goodnight, sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite”. You never thought about your son sleepwalking through the night or even your daughter screaming out her sleep. What about your twins, who are both, having nightmares! Let us think about one more thing, did you even know that this could happen to anyone at any age, even you. Many Americans around the world lack the knowledge of realizing how important sleep really is. The lack of sleep can cause short-term and long-term health problems.

There are numerous sleeping problems other than insomnia that include sleepwalking and sleep talking, nightmares and night terrors, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea, but insomnia is the common sleeping problem that involves a difficulty in falling asleep. There are two types of insomnia, which are primary and secondary, ranging from acute to chronic, one being more severe than the other. About 30 to 50 percent of today’s population suffers from insomnia, while about 10 percent suffer from chronic insomnia (Do you . . . (n.d.). Retrieved December 01, 2016, from http://www.sleepmanagement.md/home.aspx). Women are more likely to be affected by this sleeping disorder compared to men. As one gets older, the disorder progresses and may become more severe if untreated. People from low income, as well as chronic alcohol drinkers and mental health patients, are usually the type to fall into insomnia (Insomnia. (n.d.). Retrieved December 01, 2016, from http://www.sleepmanagement.md/sleepdisorders/Insomnia.aspx). Individuals appearing thin, stressed or depressed can also acquire the inability to sleep (“National Sleep Foundation,” 2007). There are certain actions and/or treatments insomniacs can implement in order prevent further damage to their bodies, whether being medical or non-medical related.