Have you ever had trouble sleeping? If so, you’re not alone. Many people have problems sleeping at least part of the time. Sometimes, sleeping problems are a problem that just needs to be solved.
Other times, they can be a sign of bigger problems. The following list of sleep disorders could be life-threatening. If you or someone you know suffers from one of these disorders, get help right away. You may not be able to control your sleep schedule, but you can control how long you sleep at night.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder that affects almost everyone who exercises control over-breathing. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most frequent cause of breathing-related sleepiness.
It is characterized by loud snoring and restlessness while asleep. If this disorder is left untreated, the inner chest wall muscles become permanently relaxed, causing the person to wake up with a “snoring” condition that is loud, heavy snoring.
In some people, sleep apnea is caused by a breathing condition called sleep-disordered breathing, which can be treated with a “ CPAP machine.” If you experience this, do not hesitate to visit a sleep apnea snoring dentist near you.
Insomnia
In addition to breathing-related sleepiness, people with insomnia feel sleepy during the day. Insomnia may be due to a variety of reasons. One reason could be a poor diet with high amounts of caffeine and sugar.
Additionally, poor sleep habits could include staying in bed too long, staying up too late, and going to bed too early. Some people with insomnia are hypersensitive to light. This could be due to a condition called circadian Rhythm Sleep Awareness, which could make people with insomnia more sensitive to light. This could cause people with insomnia to wake up during the night feeling like they’ve been hit by a lightning bolt.
Narcolepsy
In people with narcolepsy, a period of sudden, unexpected sleep occurs while the brain is still processing information from a 24-hour period. There are different types of narcolepsy. Some people have periodic leg movements while they sleep. These movements are called mnemonics.
Others have continuous slow or rapid movements of the legs. This is usually a sign of a different condition. It is important to remember that having a sleeping disorder does not mean that you won’t enjoy life or that you won’t achieve your goals. It is just important to be aware of what could cause you some unwanted side effects.
Sleep Paralysis
This is a rare condition that occurs when a person is awake and falls into a sleep-like state while experiencing a dream. If a person experiences sleep paralysis in the middle of the night, they usually experience some type of bizarre dream. This could be the cause of other symptoms such as a sense of anxiety or even insomnia.
REM Sleep Disorder
This is a disorder characterized by muscle twitching, breathing that is irregular or shallow, and possibly muscle pain. It is caused by both REM and non-REM sleep. The REM stages are what cause the most problems. This disorder usually starts during the third decade of life. There are a few reasons why someone could be having a REM sleep disorder.
A lack of REM sleep could be due to aging. Some people grow older and lose the ability to create normal amounts of REM sleep. Other people have a medical condition that is causing them to stay awake during the night. If a pregnant woman has a hard time getting to sleep, she could pass this disorder to her fetus.
Parasomnia
Parasomnia is a condition in which a person has power over their own sleep. While most people would be able to control their breathing during sleep, people with parasomnia can control how they move while asleep. Some people with parasomnia also have a condition called cyclothymia, which means they have a slow and steady gait while they sleep.
People with cyclothymia tend to move slowly and carefully while they sleep, which can make it hard to distinguish them from those with parasomnia. People with cyclothymia may also experience a racing heart while they sleep, which is usually a sign of a heart disorder called gradually or gradually progressing left ventricular hypertrophy (GHLVH).
As you can see, sleep disorders are very serious issues that need to be treated. Learning about the various sleep disorders could protect you from getting more serious conditions in the future, like heart disease and cancers.
