Sleep is essential for your health and wellness. Even one night of poor sleep can lead to daytime grogginess, irritability, and other issues.
When a person experiences insomnia or other types of sleep disorders, they can find their health impacted in several ways. While sleep disorders can affect just about anyone, certain risk factors can increase the chances of developing insomnia, sleep apnoea, and other conditions.
Insomnia is an incredibly common sleep disorder characterized by issues with falling asleep, staying asleep, and sleep quality. Insomnia is one of many sleep disorders, which also include:
Causes of sleep disorders can vary. In some people, there is no known cause. In others, family history, lifestyle, and underlying medical conditions may all play a role. Stress and hormonal imbalances can also cause issues with sleep and sleep quality.
With insomnia, the risk of developing the disorder increases when certain factors are present. They include:
With narcolepsy, genes, hormones, and stress can all play a role in the condition. As for restless leg syndrome, older adults, women, and people with iron deficiencies carry a greater risk. The condition can also accompany Parkinson’s disease. When it comes to sleep apnoea, excess weight and anatomical abnormalities (such as a narrow airway) can increase a person’s risk.
Treatment depends on the type of sleep disorder a person experiences. The best course of action is to visit a sleep specialist, who will perform certain tests. From there, your medical practitioner can recommend medication, medical devices (such as CPAP machines for sleep apnoea), and lifestyle changes to improve the condition.