Sleep Disorder

Sleep disorder and why is sleep important?

Sleep is not just resting or taking a break from busy routines - it is essential to physical and emotional health. Sleep disorder affect the ability to obtain adequate sleep. Adequate sleep may also play a role in helping the body recover from illness and injury. Inadequate sleep, or sleep disorder, over a period of time is associated with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and depression.

But, the emotional and mental benefits of sleep are also significant. Even occasional sleeping problems can make daily life feel more stressful and less productive. And, some people with chronic insomnia, a form of sleep disorder, are more likely to develop psychiatric problems. In a recent survey, those who said they had trouble getting enough sleep reported impaired ability to perform tasks.

Affects of Sleep disorder:

memory
learning
logical reasoning
mathematical calculation

Facts about sleep disorders:

Loss of sleep is believed to contribute to strained relationships at home, and unfulfilled potential on the job, and can also be dangerous, leading to serious or even fatal accidents. Consider these facts from the National Sleep Foundation, the National Commission of Sleep Disorders Research, and the National Transportation Safety Board:

Sleep disorder problems increase with aging.
The direct costs of sleepiness and lost productivity in the workplace is estimated at $18 billion.
Drowsy drivers take the blame for at least 100,000 police-reported crashes in the US annually.
Seventy-four percent of Americans suffer debilitating sleep disorders; the majority of them are undiagnosed.
What are the different types of sleep disorder problems?

There are many types of sleep problems. Disorders of sleeping and waking interfere with quality of life and personal health, and endanger public heath. These problems range from staying awake or staying with a regular sleep/wake cycle, sleepwalking, bedwetting, nightmares, insomnia, restless legs syndrome, snoring, and sleep apnea syndrome.

Help for sleep disorder problems:

For those who suffer from sleep disorders, help is available from many sources.

Sleep disorder problems may be caused by or the result of disorders in various systems of the body. Sleep apnea, for example, is a respiratory disorder while narcolepsy is a neurological disorder.

Sleep disorder problems can be treated or managed by different medical specialties. For example, pulmonary medicine will offer help to people who suffer from sleep apnea, and neurology will provide treatment for narcolepsy.

However, other medical specialties also offer treatment for sleep disorders. Many rehabilitation facilities and anesthesiology departments sponsor comprehensive sleep disorder programs, as do mental health centers. The American Board of Sleep Medicine establishes standards and certification for physicians and scientists who wish to become certified in sleep medicine.

Talk with your physician about which sleep disorder program is right for you.

Online Resources
The content provided here is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your physician. Please consult your physician with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.

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