Causes of Common Sleep Problems
About 70 million people in the United States suffer from sleep disorders. Although most people need an average of seven to eight hours of quality sleep each night, the truth is that many Americans are getting less than six hours.
Sleep deficiency can cause problems with energy and work performance and health issues such as depression and obesity. Insomnia is one of the most common sleep problems. It causes people to have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
Sleep is a fundamental component of physical and mental health. We all know that sleep deprivation can lead to severe consequences, but what are the most common sleep problems?
What are common sleep problems?
Sleep problems are prevalent in today’s world, whether because of stress, anxiety, or depression. Regardless of the cause, sleep deprivation can have devastating effects on your health and productivity.
Sleep is a vital part of a healthy life. Without sleep, the body becomes more susceptible to disease and other factors that can promote disease.
A lack of sleep can promote weight gain, diabetes, hypertension, and other health-related issues. In addition to physical health problems, sleep deprivation can also affect mental health.
The three most common sleep disorders are restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movements during sleep, and sleep apnea. These all involve abnormal behaviors or functions while asleep, such as tremors or jerks in one leg or arm, feeling like one has to move their limbs to get comfortable, and trouble breathing when sleeping.
In this section, we will explore these common sleep problems and how they impact our lives.
Insomnia
Insomnia is the inability to sleep soundly during the night. It includes difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early, leading to daytime sleepiness or fatigue.
The causes of insomnia are many and can be related to physical, emotional, or environmental factors. These causes are poor sleep habits, stress, depression/anxiety disorders, pain-related conditions such as chronic back pain or fibromyalgia, restless leg syndrome (RLS), other medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, and medications, including medications, stimulants, or certain antidepressants used to treat mood disorders.
Insomnia signs include difficulty falling asleep at night due to racing thoughts and worries about not falling asleep; not being able to stay asleep through the night due to frequent awakenings; waking up too early.
A therapist can help treat insomnia in many ways. Some treatments involve learning to manage stress and anxiety, which can help with insomnia symptoms. Other treatments involve lifestyle changes such as getting regular exercise and improving sleep hygiene habits like cutting down on caffeine or alcohol before bedtime or not watching TV before bedtime.
The treatment of insomnia includes cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT- I) and behavioral interventions. Some providers may use a different order and some may use a more specific approach. Some providers will provide content that is tailored to your needs depending on what those needs are.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition where you have difficulty breathing because your upper airway becomes blocked. It can happen either when you are lying down or during the day, especially while asleep.
Often people with sleep apnea don't know they have it until they experience symptoms like daytime sleepiness, snoring, and excessive daytime sleepiness.
There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive and central. Obstructive sleep apnea happens when something blocks your airway when you're sleeping (usually enlarged tonsils or tongue). Central sleep apnea is less common and occurs when the brain can't signal to breathe in time (because of an injury or disease).
Sleep apnea is a common condition that disrupts the normal breathing cycle during sleep, detrimental to overall health.
While it’s commonly believed that sleep apnea only affects overweight and snore patients, there is evidence that this isn’t always the case. Sleep apnea can affect anyone of any size or weight.
It is important to note that not all sleep apnea is central sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is a disorder in which the brain does not send signals to the airway muscles, causing them to block. On the other hand, obstructive sleep apnea is when airflow tubes become blocked because of nasal and throat tissues collapsing.
The difference between central and obstructive sleep apnea can be seen through breathing patterns. Those with central sleep apnea will be taking shallow breaths, while those with obstructive sleep apnea will breathe more frequently and intensely.
Rem Sleep Behavior Disorder
About 2% of people have REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). This means that RBD is characterized by physically acting out dreams, causing individuals to harm themselves or their sleeping partner potentially. While many people experience dream-enacting behavior while asleep, it does not usually cause problems for the partner.
People with sleep apnea are at risk for other sleep disorders, including REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD).
RBD is becoming increasingly common in patients who have had brain surgery, especially those who have had multiple types of surgery on their brains. The brain’s frontal lobe controls impulse control and judgment.
REM sleep behavior disorder is a condition that affects people who are in the REM stage of sleep. Symptoms may include acting out one's dreams. This is not considered harmful, and it does not interfere with the person's ability to function during the day.
Periodic limb movement disorder
Periodic Limb Movement Disorder is a condition that causes limbs to shake or move involuntarily during sleep. It is also known as nocturnal myoclonus or sleep myoclonus.
The movements can affect the whole body in some cases, so it looks like Parkinson's disease.
The symptoms of this disorder include:
Shaking of the hands, feet, or other extremities
Rocking back and forth or side to side in bed
Jerking movements in the legs, arms, chest, face, head, eyelids, tongue, lips, and jaw
The causes of this disorder are unknown, but a problem with the brain may cause it, so people with this disorder should see a doctor.
Treatments are available for periodic limb movement disorders, such as medications, muscle relaxants, and surgery.
Restless legs syndrome
Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder characterized by an irresistible urge to move one's limb, usually accompanied or caused by uncomfortable and unpleasant sensations in the legs.
Many people with RLS also have problems with insomnia and can't sleep through the night. RLS symptoms are most common in the evenings or at night, but they can happen during the day too.
With this disorder, people experience an unpleasant sensation in the legs that compel them to move. The urge to stretch or walk is often relieved by this movement.
The symptoms of this disorder include:
Unpleasant sensation in the legs
A compulsion to move the legs
Relief of these symptoms by stretching or walking
Most people with RLS have no other medical conditions, but some people with diabetes, kidney failure, or lupus may also develop it. Prescription medications such as opioids and antidepressants can also trigger RLS. If you have restless leg syndrome, your doctor may prescribe a medication to calm your nerves and relieve your symptoms.
We can help
If you seek professional help, Trust Mental Health can match you with a professional therapist who can help you get rid of your sleep problems. Our therapists come from a wide array of backgrounds and can speak many languages. Set up a free consultation with us to learn more.