SLEEPING disorders are often overlooked, and in most cases,never ever get treated. Battling to fall and stay asleep are basic forms ofsleeping disorders, and experts say there's a medical explanation behind yoursleepless nights.
SLEEPING DISTURBANCES
A normal sleeping period for adults is eight hours. Manyblame social media and their smartphones for sleeping three or four hours lessthan the normal time. But Nobuhle Mbulawa, a general practitioner, says that'snot always the case. She says struggling to fall asleep could be the firstsigns of stress and anxiety. She says that it's normal to have few sleeplessnights in a month, but if it becomes a routine, it's a disorder that needsintervention. "Sleeping disorders are often overlooked, and mostly never everget treated. Depression, stress and anxiety can cause sleeping disturbances,"she explains. There are a lot of factors that can result in abnormal sleepingpatterns. Apart from medical, psychological and psychiatric factors, registerednurse Sibusiso Zikhali lists physical discomforts as other sleep disturbances. Heexplains that due to discomfort and pain from injuries, one can struggle tosleep. He goes on to explain that sleeping disorders can be inherited. "Someconditions related to sleeping disorders are inherited. If there is a familyhistory of sleeping disorder, you can inherit those conditions," he says. Havingexcessive sleep is also classified as a sleeping disorder, and certainmedication can result in the disorder. Experts say excessive intake of sleepingpills, and anti-depressants can tamper with normal sleeping patterns anddisturb your daily productivity.
FORMS OF SLEEPING DISORDERS
It's advisable to keep track of your sleeping patterns.Experts say this will make you more aware of your functionality. Simple nightactivities like laughing or snoring deep in your sleep may be an indication ofa sleeping disorder and signs of an underlying medical condition. Chronicconditions like asthma, diabetes and hypertension may cause sleeping disorderswhile some sleeping disorders can result in chronic conditions.
MOST COMMON SLEEPING DISORDERS
¦Insomnia - Individuals suffering from insomnia havedifficulties sleeping, they can't stayasleep and they wake up too early in the morning.
¦Sleep apnea - This is a very serious conditionas sufferers have disturbed breathing patterns. The body takes in less oxygenduring the first hours of sleep and there are breathing pauses and a personstarts snoring.
¦Teeth grinding - Sufferers chew on their teethdeep in sleep. The sleeping disorder may be caused by stress and anxiety.
¦Parasomnia - Sufferers may just burst intolaughter during sleep. The condition is a result of irregular emotions and canhappen at any time of the sleep circle.
¦Narcolepsy - There's atemporary paralysis during sleep and it usually goes together withhallucination. A person can't wake upfrom a nightmare.
EFFECTS OF HAVING LITTLE SLEEP
Getting enough sleep is vital, your body functions betterafter a good night sleep. Experts say denying your body an opportunity to restmay have a negative impact on your mood, productivity and your overall health. Nobuhleexplains that chronic irregular patterns that deprive you of enough sleep maymake you an unpleasant person to be around. "People who don't get enough sleep are generally irritable. For some,it's even worse, they start seeing and hearing things that don't exist," sheshares. Sibusiso explains that having little to no sleep kills your sex drive,saying people who don't get enough sleep have low energy levels. He says peoplewho suffer from depression and sleeping disorders pose a danger to others andthemselves. The nurse recalls a lot of incidents where patients lost controland hurt themselves or others around them. "It's easy to lose concentration andcause accidents, especially when your work requires that you operate machinery.It's even worse for people suffering from depression. I have treated patientswho sustained an injury because they didn't have enough sleep and lost focus,"he shares.
OTHER SIDE EFFECTS
¦Weight gain - Sleeping disorders affect yourbrain, and you are more likely to overeat as the brain takes longer to detect afull stomach.
¦Forgetfulness - People who don't get enough sleep have impaired memory, they easily forgetthings.
¦ Lowsex drive - Lack of sleep results intiredness, and low energy levels. All this decreases the libido in both men andwomen.
¦ Lossof concentration - One loses their creative juices,and has hard time solving general problems.
¦ Weakimmune system - Sleep boasts the immune system.Having little sleep can weaken the immune system and make you prone to coldsand flu.
