Do you have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep? Are you sleepy throughout the day? If so, you may have a sleep disorder, and you are not alone. In fact, 20-50 percent of Americans suffer from some type of sleep disorder. Sleep disorders are disturbances of sleep that can affect daytime alertness and even lead to other health problems.
Roughly one-third of our lives are spent sleeping, and it is easy to understand that disrupted sleep can impair our ability to function while awake. Those with excessive daytime sleepiness often perform poorly at work and may fall asleep during conversations, meals, or even while driving.
Symptoms of a sleep disorder include:
- Excessive sleepiness during the day
- Difficulty falling asleep, and/or difficulty remaining asleep (insomnia)
- Falling asleep at inappropriate times (such as while driving or working)
- Snoring or appearing to stop breathing
One of the most common sleep disorders is sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disturbance caused by repetitive interruptions hundreds of times each night. During these interruptions, those with sleep apnea briefly stop breathing. As a result, vital organs, including the heart and brain, are deprived of oxygen. Those who are overweight or obese may be at greater risk of developing sleep apnea.
Symptoms of sleep apnea may include:
- High blood pressure
- Loud snoring
- Appearing to gasp for air during the night
- Morning headaches
- Daytime sleepiness
- Stopping breathing during sleep
If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to a several other health problems, including heart disease, depression and even impotence.
There are several different treatment options for sleep apnea. These treatments include:
- Weight loss
- Surgery
- Oral appliance
- Medication
- CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure).