Over 40 million Americans are dealing with some type of chronic sleep disorder. In addition to those numbers there are millions more who suffer with occasional insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns.
To date there are over 70 different types of sleep disorder. The most common are:
- Insomnia
- Sleep Apnea
- Restless Leg Syndrome
- Narcolepsy
INSOMNIA
Most people are familiar with insomnia. It is defined as poor quality sleep, and it includes not being able to fall asleep, and/or stay asleep. Remember that, because many people don’t realize that waking up prematurely may be a form of insomnia.
Insomnia is extremely common and occurs in almost 50% of the U.S. population. About 10% of people have chronic insomnia. That means insomnia that has been going on for years.
SLEEP APNEA
Sleep Apnea is a disorder that affects your breathing. People with sleep apnea have a reduction in their breathing patterns and may pause breathing altogether.
There are two different types of sleep apnea:
- Central Sleep Apnea – the brain does not send signals to the muscles to breath.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea – the brain sends signals to the muscles to breathe but the airway is obstructed, preventing the proper amount of air flow.
It is possible to suffer from both forms of sleep apnea, but the second type is much more common. Many people with this condition are obese and have to sleep with a breathing apparatus during the night, (usually A CPAP or BiPAP machine — (Know what they are? Need a definition? Check the Terminology Page.)).
RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME
Restless Leg Syndrome is a sleep disorder that makes a person experience uncomfortable sensations in their legs. The person may also have an uncontrollable desire to move their legs.
This is not a condition where your legs cramp. Rather, that you experience strange feelings like tingling, pins and needles, prickliness, or pulling.
We think this causes sleep issues because of the difficulty finding a comfortable position for your legs.
NARCOLEPSY
Narcolepsy is a disease that affects your central nervous system. You experience daytime sleepiness, known as EDS for Excessive Daytime Sleepiness. People who have narcolepsy often have loss of muscle tone, hallucinations, and an inability to move or talk.
These symptoms may be present together or individually and the severity varies from person to person.
If you think you may be suffering from any of these sleep disorders see your doctor. Getting quality sleep is one step toward optimal health and saying NO to stroke!
