There are a lot of Americans who suffer from different sleep disorders, preventing them from getting a good night’s rest. Depending on the disorder, the lack of sleep can greatly affect a person’s ability to function throughout the day. Besides the lack of energy, sleep disorders also weaken a person’s immune system, making them more susceptible to illnesses. Here are some common sleep disorders and their corresponding treatments;
Insomnia
Insomnia can either be chronic or short-term. It can be developed because of poor sleep hygiene, sleep-related breathing disorders, medical conditions, erratic sleep-wake schedule, hormonal imbalances or changes, limb movements during sleep, or circadian rhythm disorders. Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep even when tired or restless, which makes it stressful.
Treatment for insomnia can take the form of prescription medication or non-medicinal means like cognitive behavior therapy, hypnosis, sleep restriction, stimulus control, and relaxation techniques.
Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is easy to spot as it is commonly accompanied by loud snoring. Sleep apnea occurs when your airway is repeatedly blocked during sleep. This results in choking noises and loud snoring. Some symptoms of sleep apnea include waking up with a dry throat, loud snoring, lack of energy or feeling extremely sleepy during the day, waking up gasping for air, and severe headaches.
The most common way to treat sleep apnea is through CPAP therapy. This uses a CPAP machine to keep your airways open while you sleep. There are other alternatives to a CPAP machine like wearing oral sleep apnea treatment devices, surgery, weight management therapy, or even positional therapy.
Dr. Lisa M. Cannon is a New Jersey-based physician. She specializes in pulmonary disease, critical care, and sleep medicine. Read more articles about sleep on this blog.
Dr. Lisa Marie Cannon 