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Sleep Disorder Help
Sleep Disorder Help:Sleep is very important. When you sleep, your body restores its energy levels and rests. Sleep is an active state, ant it affects both physical and mental well-being. Sleeping well helps you cope with stress, solve problems, and recover from being sick. When you sleep, two natural cycles happen: Rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM). The body switches between REM and NREM during sleep. Non-REM sleep is made of four stages. Each stage lasts from 5-15 minutes and repairs and regenerates tissues, builds bones and muscles. A completed cycle of non-REM sleep is followed by REM sleep and then repeated. REM sleep happens 90 minutes after sleep begins. The first REM cycle lasts for about ten minutes, and the final one can last up to an hour. REM sleep brainwaves are similar to those during waking moments. When people who do not have sleep disorders, the heart rate and respiration speed increase and the eyes dart in different directions. Intense dreaming also occurs during REM sleep because of high brain activity. REM sleep decreases as you get older. Infants spend 50% of sleep in REM, and adults spend about 20% in REM. There are four different types of sleeping disorders: insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome. Sleep disorder insomnia is usually a symptom of other problems that exists. Insomnia usually includes not being able to fall asleep or stay asleep, or waking up earlier than usual, and fatigue during the day. Sleep disorder apnea is excessive sleepiness during the day, or fatigue. Other symptoms are snoring, snorting, and gasping when you sleep. Unrefreshing sleep is also common and headaches in the morning. Sleep disorder narcolepsy is also excessive sleepiness during the day but are eased by naps. If you dream during naps or experience dream-like hallucinations be aware that that is also a warning sign. Other symptoms may also include loss of muscle control that occurs with emotion (laughing, anger), and the inability to move as you are going to sleep or waking up. Sleep disorder restless leg syndrome is a very uncomfortable type of sleep problem. It usually consists of the irresistible urge to move your legs shortly after going to bed, in the middle of the night, or after waking. It may even happen when you are wide awake during the day. Relief is usually gained if you walk around or rub your leg. This symptom has been described as “creepy-crawly” or a twitching feeling that can happen in your calves, feet, thighs, or arms. You need to seek sleep disorder help if simple self-help techniques do not work. Try cutting down of caffeine, exercising, and relaxing. If you think that your sleep problems may be related to underlying conditions (depression, heart problems) you need to see your doctor immediately. If you snore loudly or gasp, fall asleep during normal activities, feel unrefreshed upon waking or are fatigued, or think that your medication is causing sleep problems you should contact your doctor. There are different sleep disorder tests that doctors use to diagnose sleep problems. First they will probably conduct a physical exam and take a medical and sleep history. You may be asked to record a sleep diary, take a Epworth sleepiness scale questionnaire, a polysomnogram, or a mental health exam. |
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