DID YOU KNOW?
Sleep disorders have become such a huge problem
that over 70 million people a year in the United States
take sleeping pills. This has created a $2 billion a year
industry for pharmaceutical companies.
A sleep disorder is not an uncommon problem. Sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy and sleep insomnia, or chronic lack of sleep affect many people all across the world.
Sleep disorder studies have shown that insomnia and other sleeping related disorders stem from psychological triggers.
How Do I Tell If It Is A Sleep Disorder?
Before we go any further it is best that you understand that a sleep disorder can fall into two categories. One comes from lack of sleep and the other category includes disorders that occur while you sleep.
If a sleep disorder occurs while you are sleeping it could be:
* Bruxism - grinding his or her teeth involuntarily while sleeping
* Hypopnea syndrome - when the person has very shallow breathing while sleeping
* Delayed sleep phase syndrome - where a person has a hard time waking up or falling asleep when he or she wants to
* Narcolepsy - a condition where the individual falls asleep involuntarily and without their knowledge
* Periodic limb movement - and restless legs syndrome are the involuntary movements of the sleepers’ limbs while sleeping
* REM behavior disorder - the condition where people act out violently or actively while in the REM, or deep sleep, state
* Sleepwalking
* Sleep apnea - waking up many times throughout the night because of loss of breath
A sleep disorder can become a serious problem for people if the condition continues to worsen and the person does nothing about it. To treat the disorders listed above (except for sleep apnea) it is best to consider psychotherapy instead of medication or drugs because it has a stronger and more lasting effect.
Medication is usually only a temporarily solution for a sleep disorder and can cause harmful side effects. Psychotherapeutic treatments discover the cause of the sleep disorder and concentrate their treatment on the psyche of the person involved.
Sleep apnea is the only sleep disorder that usually requires medical attention. Sleep apnea is usually accompanied by heavy and loud snoring and causes the person to wake up possibly hundreds of times during the night without remembering being awake.
A partially blocked airway is causing the sleep disorder. Devices to help force air into the mouth while sleeping or a mechanical dental device to help keep the mouth in the right position to breath throughout the night are used to treat the condition.
What About Insomnia?
The most well known sleep disorder is insomnia, or a consistent lack of sleep over time. Insomnia can be caused by:
* Stress
* Poor sleep schedule
* psychological problems
* Emotional problems
Insomnia, if not treated can cause severe depression and anxiety, but since it is not uncommon to suffer from a sleep disorder many people do little about it because they don't think it is a big deal.
That is when insomnia, or any sleep disorder, becomes a big problem because of the severe irritability, anxiety and depression it can cause. The best way to get rid of insomnia is to recognize any sleeping problems you have and treat them before they become chronic.
Some of the sleep disorder symptoms someone might exhibit that lead to insomnia are:
* Difficulty falling asleep at night
* Difficulty maintaining sleep
* Requiring caffeine all day long
* Difficulty staying awake while driving
* Slow reactions to events
* Emotional outbursts
* Feeling irritable, or stressed throughout the day
* Difficulty staying awake while watching television or reading
* Red eyes as well as red half circles under your eyes
How Do You Naturally Treat Insomnia?
Your diet plays a role in treating insomnia. Try to avoid:
* Caffeine
* Alcohol
* Sugar
* Drugs
There are natural treatments for insomnia like:
* Learning breathing and relaxation exercises (meditation)
* Doing Yoga
* Exercising more throughout the day
* Drinking a lot of water
To live a healthy life you need to get at least 6-10 hours of sleep each night. Exactly how much varies from person to person. But getting the right amount of sleep for you will keep you healthy, living longer, and give you increased energy levels to accomplish all of your tasks throughout the day.
At Diet Health and Fitness we suggest that you learn the many natural techniques that can help you get the perfect amount of sleep every night. If you are having trouble with a sleep disorder we recommend that you visit one of the links below.
