Sleep disorders can be one of the most harrowing experiences in the life of any individual. Everyone wishes to have their 8 hours of dreams after a taxing day at office – but what if your sleep is troubled (or worse, if you simply can’t fall asleep)? While certain types of sleep disorders can be caused by temporary, external causes, others can stem from deep-seated medical reasons. Over here, we deliberate on some of the common causes and effective remedies of sleeping disorders:
Causes:
Acute insomnia – If you are suffering from chronic insomnia, you will find it practically impossible to fall asleep – no matter how tired you might be. Such lack of sleep can keep you dizzy during the day, and lower your overall energy and vitality levels. Insomnia can result from physical discomforts as well as enhanced mental stress levels.
A poor sleeping routine – If you make it a habit to work till late at night daily, the biological clock of your body can go for a toss. Health care service experts also opine that working at night shifts for a prolonged period of time can usher in sleeping problems. It is not without reason that night shifts are also known as ‘graveyard shifts’!
Sleep apnea and/or asthma – If you have serious asthmatic tendencies, you will find it difficult to even lie down – let alone fall asleep. Sleep apnea, which causes your breathing to become too irregular/shallow while you are asleep, can be yet another troublesome issue. You will only be able to sleep in fits and spurts – which will adversely affect your overall health.
Taking too many strong medications – Sleeplessness can also result as a side-effect of the intake of too many strong medicines just before bed-time. In case you do need such medications, ask your health care service expert to prescribe a better, more spaced-out time schedule for having them.
Remedies:
Stay relaxed – An overly stressed-out mind can stand in the way of your being able to catch the necessary hours of sleep. Do some meditation to unclutter your mind, before you hit the bed. Having a reading habit before going to sleep can is also a healthy and effective idea.
Avoid having coffee at night – Cut down on your caffeine-addiction levels. Having strong coffee at night, in particular, can hamper your ability to fall asleep. Go for a light dinner as well. The human digestive system functions even when you are asleep – but that does not mean you should overwork it!
Do not become reliant on sleeping pills – Seemingly the easiest way to fall asleep is to pop a couple of strong sleeping pills. Do not become too reliant on them, however – and never take them without prior consultation with a qualified health care services expert. Strong dependence on such drugs might mean you will never be able to sleep without them in future!
Have a regular sleeping schedule – Mark a time at night, when you will go to bed – and try to stick to it, whatever your other tasks might be. While it might be necessary to stay awake for longer for days far between – regularly violating this schedule can result in sleeping disorders.
Of course, if you are having trouble to fall asleep due to loud external noises, you can consider shifting your sleeping quarters to a quieter section of the house. Sleep well and stay healthy!
Other factors that can interfere with sleep include:
Genetics: Researchers have found a genetic basis for narcolepsy, a neurological disorder of sleep regulation that affects the control of sleep and wakefulness.
Night shift work: People who work at night often experience sleep disorders, because they cannot sleep when they start to feel drowsy. Their activities run contrary to their biological clocks.
Medications: Many drugs can interfere with sleep, such as certain antidepressants, blood pressure medication, and over-the-counter cold medicine.
Use this sleep disorder forum to discuss more.