Sleeping disorders can have a huge negative impact on your life, considering that we spend 1/3rd of our lives sleeping, a sleeping disorders can lead to serious issues in everyday life for some people.
The most common sleeping disorder is Insomnia. This is when a person struggles to feel relaxed and well-rested, no matter how much sleep they get. The main cause of this can be linked to mental health, eg. it’s more likely to occur with those that are stressed and that tend to consume too much sugar. Insomnia has also been linked to a lack of exercise.
Sleep Apnea is another common sleeping disorder. This is when a person wakes up several times throughout the night due to a blockage in their airways. This can lead you to feel exhausted and even depressed throughout the daytime. The most common signs of Sleep Apnea are loud and chronic snoring, as well as gasping/snorting during sleep. This sleeping disorder has the potential to be life threatening, so if you know someone with this condition or if you have this condition yourself, make sure to consult your doctor.
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is another frequent sleeping disorder. This is when you find it hard to relax your legs before you go to sleep, resulting in constant fidgeting. The most common sign of RLS is experiencing leg cramps during sleep, this can be highly painful and can result in you waking up in agony.
Another fairly common sleeping disorder is Narcolepsy. This condition has dangerous effects on your during the daytime, it can cause you to have sudden peaks in tiredness at random times, this can be highly critical if it was to occur while you are driving. Signs of Narcolepsy are seeing or hearing things when you feel sleepy, as well as daydreaming on a regular basis.
Overall, sleeping disorders are fairly common and it’s highly likely that we will experience at least one of these conditions throughout our lifetime. If you have any suspicions that you are suffering from one of these sleeping disorders, then consult your doctor or visit the NHS Sleep Problems advice page.
