Sleeping Disorders Essay, Research Paper

Sleeping Disorders

I am going to start by telling you what a sleeping disorder is. A

sleeping disorder is a problem that affects something to do with sleep. Not all

sleeping disorders have symptoms that are obvious to a person or their family

and friends, here are some common sleep disorders.

- Insomnia – Sleep Apnea – Narcolepsy – Restless Leg Syndrome – Parasomnia

- Bruxism – Jet Lag – Shiftwork

I will be discussing the sleeping disorders listed above and what

symptoms they can cause.

Insomnia is a chronic sleeping disorder in which it is very difficult to

start and continue sleeping. One of the other symptoms of insomnia that is most

recognized is waking up repeatedly in the middle of the night. Lack of sleep

leads to two other things, daytime fatigue and restlessness. These are bad on

the job and at school while doing tests or other important work.

The amount of sleep that each person needs to feel alert during the day

varies. If you have a night of sleep which is much less than the amount of

sleep you need, then you will more than likely feel quite sleepy the next day.

Thirty-three percent of adults in America have a case of insomnia at least once

in their life. Most cases only last one or two nights, but insomnia can

continue for weeks or possibly even months.

There have only been three standard types of insomnia that have been

identified by doctors. They are as follows:

- Transient insomnia is considered a few sleepless nights that is usually

brought on by stress, excitement, or environmental changes. A person could have

trouble sleeping the evening before a big meeting or shortly after a breakup or

a fight with his girlfriend. – Short-term insomnia is usually two or three

weeks of poor sleep caused by continual stress at work or at home, as well as

medical and psychiatric illnesses. Eliminating the source of the stress usually

takes care of the irregular sleep patterns – Chronic insomnia is considered

poor sleep that lasts two weeks or longer. It can possibly be related to

medical, behavioral, or psychiatric problems. Usually poor sleep leads to

decreased feelings of well-being. Chronic insomnia can usually recur.

If difficulty sleeping was the only problem with insomnia, then it

wouldn’t be so bad. Some of the other problems it can cause is anxiety in

noticeably impaired concentration and memory. To keep episodes of insomnia at a

minimum, sleep specialists recumbent practicing good sleep hygiene.

There is another sleeping disorder called Sleep Apnea. Sleep Apnea is

not really problems with going to sleep, it is more dealing with problems while

you are sleeping. Some of the symptoms of sleep apnea include

- loud or irregular snoring – excessive daytime sleepiness – repeated nightly

arousals – non-refreshing sleep – morning headache – nightly periodic absent

breathing

Loud snoring at night can be more than just a nuisance. It can actually

signal to you that something could be wrong with breathing during sleep. In

most cases, there are no serious medical consequences associated with snoring.

But for about 20 million Americans, this loud, habitual snoring can indicate a

life-threatening disorder know as sleep apnea. An apnea is actually a lack of

breath.

For most people during sleep, it is normal for the breathing muscles to

relax. The problem is, for some people, excessive muscle relaxation occurs

which disrupts breathing. Disordered breathing during sleep also can occur if

the brain stops sending the needed messages to the breathing muscles. In either

case, the presence of apnea should be taken seriously.

Sleep apnea is more common in middle-aged men and overweight people.

People with sleep apnea often complain of insomnia or excessive daytime

sleepiness. Waking up with headaches is another symptom of sleep apnea. So is

impaired memory and concentration. Problems arising from sleep apnea can

include heart and lung disease, and can also cause heart failure in severe cases.

There are three typical forms of sleep apnea, with varying degrees of

respiratory movements.

- Obstructive Apnea is the most common and severe form. It is associated with

an upper airway obstruction and a loss of airflow even though the respiratory

muscles are active. When muscles of the soft palate at the base of the tongue

and uvula relax and sag, the block the airway and cause loud, labored breathing.

When breathing stops, pressure builds up until the sleeper lets out a gasp for

air. Each gasp causes a mini-awakening. People with obstructive apnea can stop

breathing for 10 seconds or more, several hundred times a night. Snoring is

present. – Central Apnea is when the airway remains open but the diaphragm and

chest muscles stop working. As oxygen levels in the blood stream decrease, the

sleeper will awaken and resume breathing. Several awakenings during the course

of a night usually occur, sometimes accompanied by gasps or choking sounds.

Complaints of insomnia and an inability to maintain sleep are common. Snoring

will not necessarily be present. – Mixed apnea occurs when the sleeper

experiences a brief period of central apnea normally followed by a longer period

of obstructive apnea. For this reason people with mixed apnea often snore. Mixed

apnea is common among people with sleep apnea.

Treatment for sleep apnea varies depending on the type of apnea and the

individual patient needs. Sleep apnea syndrome caused by the soft tissue of the

throat collapsing during sleep is often treated with a device known as CPAP

(Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). The compressor creates air pressure that

is sent through the airway of the sleep apnea patient, keeping it open to allow

the patient to sleep and breathe normally.

Parasomnias are a type of sleep disorder that can intrude into or

interrupt the sleep process. The are disorders of arousal, partial arousal and

sleep-stage transition. The following are common examples of parasomnias.

Sleepwalking

Episodes of sleepwalking can range from a person sitting up in bed to

more complex activities like preparing a meal. Although the sleepwalker may be

unaware of their environment, they often show an ability to navigate through

their house or wherever they may be without serious harm. However, there is a

danger of the sleeper falling or walking outside. Trying to stop a sleepwalker

is often met with resistance. Sleepwalkers can experience emotional distress and

embarrassment because of their nighttime activities, keeping them from staying

with friends or vacationing. Sleepwalking is most common in children and

normally disappears with the coming of puberty.

Sleep Talking

While sleeping, a person may begin talking without reason. The sleeper

may say a comprehensible speech, single words or other sounds. Typically, the

sleep talker is not aware of what they are saying. The talking is often said

without emotion, but can be associated with stressful shouting. Other than the

irritation or distress it may cause loved ones, sleep talking is harmless. It is

often a temporary phenomenon brought on by stress or illness, but it can

continue for many years. Sleep talking frequently occurs with other sleep

disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea and sleep terrors.

Sleep Eating

The causes of sleep-related eating are many. Most of them arise from a

background of more conventional sleepwalking. In some cases, the sleep-related

eating was brought on by medications prescribed for depression or insomnia. It

may be a display of other sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea or

periodic limb movements. The “sleep-related eating disorder” has only recently

been described. Common concerns about this disorder are excessive weight gain,

choking while eating, potential injury from starting fires while cooking or

cutting oneself while preparing food, and sleep disruption. Approximately two-

thirds of those afflicted with this disorder are women and the symptoms

typically begin in the late 20s. The overwhelming majority do not suffer from a

waking eating disorder.

Sleeping disorders can be very weird, I did not know that until I wrote

this paper. I was not aware that people could eat in their sleep, I thought

that only happened in TV I have learned a great deal from this paper and I hope

you did also.