Sleep disturbances - Renew Health Clinic

Sleep Disturbances: A Comprehensive Overview

Common Forms of Sleep Disturbances

Some of the most prevalent sleep issues include:

• Insomnia: Difficulty falling or staying asleep. This affects up to 30% of adults for shorter periods. Chronic insomnia hits 10-15% of people. Main symptoms involve difficulty falling asleep, waking up frequently, or waking up too early without being able to go back to sleep.
• Sleep Apnea: Repeated pauses in breathing during sleep due to airway blockages. An estimated 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. Key signs are loud snoring and daytime fatigue/sleepiness despite seemingly adequate nighttime sleep.
• Restless Leg Syndrome: Unpleasant creeping, crawling, tingling, pulling, throbbing, or aching sensations in the legs, making it hard to fall or stay asleep. Up to 10% of U.S. adults have restless leg syndrome.
• Shift Work Disorder: A circadian rhythm sleep disorder caused by working evenings, nights, or early mornings, leading to insomnia during "usual" nighttime sleep hours. Shift workers are at high risk.

What Are the Consequences?

Sleep disturbances negatively impact physical and mental health:

• Increased risk of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, obesity, and depression
• Daytime fatigue, lack of motivation, and cognitive impairments like memory issues
• Poor productivity, concentration troubles, more errors, and accidents

Getting insufficient sleep shortens lifespan. One study associated sleeping 5 hours or less per night with a 15% higher mortality risk. Prioritizing healthy sleep is vital.

Seeking Help for Sleep Disorders

If you chronically struggle to sleep well and feel exhausted during the day, seek professional help. A doctor can explore underlying issues and refer you to a:

• Sleep doctor (specializing in sleep medicine)
• Sleep center for overnight testing
• Cognitive behavioral therapist (to improve sleep habits)

With testing and treatment, most sleep disturbances can be effectively managed for better rest and health. Don't assume poor sleep is normal. Take action by speaking to your physician. Quality sleep is a key pillar of health.

I aimed to provide a helpful overview of sleep disturbances in this answer. Please let me know if you have any other questions!