Sleep is an important part of both our emotional and physical health. It helps the body to recover from things such as illness and injuries quicker. Those who do not get enough sleep report troubles with things involving learning, logical reasoning, memory, and math calculations.
It can result in strained relationships, or causing you to lose concentration while working. Not getting enough sleep can result in a less-productive day and added stress. Severe insomnia can result in psychiatric problems! This in mind, it is unfortunate that both adults and children have sleep problems such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, insomnia, and narcolepsy.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, at least 100,000 police-reported accidents in the US are a result of people who are sleep-deprived driving. Also, that it costs an estimated $15.0 billion for lost productivity and sleepiness. This stated, it is sad that about 40 million Americans suffer sleep disorders, and most of them go undiagnosed.
The amount of sleep needed varies from person to person. The average adult should intake about 7-8 hours each night. Those who have trouble focusing on things or remembering facts, find it difficult to stay alert, or tend to be unreasonable or irritable with those they spend time with could be missing signals that their bodies need more sleep.
With at least 84 sleep disorders, it is important to stay in tune to your body and talk to a doctor if you think you are suffering from anything from irregular sleep patterns, and snoring, to nightmares and sleepwalking.
Sleep disorders can be caused by many different things. Hence they are treated many different ways. For example, narcolepsy is treated with neurology, and sleep apnea is treated with pulmonary medicine.
There are ways to help yourself help sleep problems. One way to do this is to go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning. So long as you do it at least six hours before bed, exercising on a regular basis will help sleep problems, as it stimulates the brain and the body.
Not consuming anything with caffeine within 5-6 hours of going to bed will help. Also, try not to smoke before bed. If you take naps, aim for mid-afternoon, and try to do so at the same time every day.
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.
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.
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. 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.