Sleep Disorders: Narcolepsy, Insomnia, Obstructive Sleep Apnea Essay Example

to compensate for their deficiency in downtime. Persistently inadequate amounts of sleep can detrimentally affect decision-making skills, cognitive abilities and various sensory functions.

Why is sleep necessary for us? As per Ninds, "Our nervous systems depend on sleep to function effectively." A lack of proper sleep can result in decreased focus and a higher likelihood of having delirium and mood swings. While you're sleeping, your brain is still busy rejuvenating and repairing your body. Even though you may be resting, your brain persistently oversees everything, transmitting messages through neurotransmitters to almost all regions of your body.

Sleep is divided into five unique stages, which comprise the initial four steps and the rapid eye movement (REM) stage. The sleep pattern commences with the first stage, progresses to REM sleep, then reverts back to the initial phase. According to Ninds, this repetitive cycle has a duration of approximately 90 minutes. The first stage is characterized by superficial sleep from which awakening can easily occur. With each succeeding stage, our slumber deepens making it increasingly difficult to awaken. The most crucial part of this routine is the intense REM sleep phase where breathing becomes inconsistent and faster, eyes move or flutter behind closed eyelids while physical immobility temporarily ensues. Summarily occurring towards the completion of a full sleeping cycle, REM sleep primarily aligns with when dreaming initiates.

The food we consume and the medicines we take, whether prescribed by a physician or obtained over-the-counter, can significantly affect our sleep quality. Various elements like caffeine, dietary enhancements, and specific drugs may impede us from reaching REM sleep or even inhibit our ability to sleep altogether. "Heavy smokers generally experience light sleep and

have decreased amounts of REM sleep." (Ninds) Insufficient REM sleep often results in feelings of fatigue.

Understanding the fundamentals of sleep allows us to delve into its disorders, with insomnia being the most prevalent one. “Insomnia originates from Latin meaning "lack of sleep," it denotes an inability to fall asleep or remain asleep.” (Sleep Foundation) It appears that women are more likely to suffer from insomnia than men.

While insomnia is considered an independent disorder on its own, it's usually triggered by another physiological irregularity. This condition could last for several days up to many years. The causes can vary; some can be managed while others not as easily. Stress, jet lag, anxiety and changes due to shift work are among its primary triggers.

For mild cases of insomnia, physicians might recommend a mild sedative in order to reset our body rhythms. However if this method fails in alleviating symptoms of insomnia then there might be deeper underlying problems that require attention. The medications we typically use for various health conditions could prevent us from achieving restful sleep.
The medications that could disrupt sleep encompass contraceptives, drugs for cardiac conditions, gastrointestinal treatments, beta blockers, and remedies for colds and allergies among others. However, the medicines most prone to causing sleep disturbances are anti-depressants.

Insomnia exhibits in numerous annoying forms, such as disturbed sleep with habitual wake-ups, grumpiness, daytime sluggishness, prematurely waking up and difficulties trying to drift into sleep. Luckily, there are many methods available to mitigate these symptoms. Adjusting one's sleeping surroundings often yields visible upgrades. It's crucial to keep the bedroom solely for rest and avoid distractions like watching TV. Pill therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy along with dietary changes

are also beneficial strategies. If stress is a root cause of insomnia, relaxation techniques can be useful. Regular exercise is always encouraged too. In the realm of sleep disorders discussion, narcolepsy is notably intriguing.

Narcolepsy refers to a neurological disorder that stems from the brain's inability to correctly regulate normal sleep-wake cycles– this definition is attributed to Sleep Foundation. Narcolepsy—originated from a Greek word implying numbness or slumber—causes individuals affected by it to fall asleep unexpectedly without any premonition. However, people suffering from narcolepsy aren't constantly sleepy; they exhibit similar sleeping patterns compared to those unaffected by this disorder. The problem for narcoleptics resides in their incapability to dictate when they will doze off which could potentially pose safety hazards. This condition impacts both genders equally.

Narcolepsy exhibits a variety of regular symptoms like temporary paralysis often seen in REM sleep, vivid dreams, feeling tired during the day, physical spasms, and repeated interruptions to night-time rest. Diagnosing narcolepsy is commonly difficult and while it exists, no cures are currently available. However, similar to managing insomnia, there are several methods such as behavioural modification therapies. These could mean changing dietary habits, decreasing caffeine intake or other sleep-disrupting substances and medication-based therapy. The prescription drug sodium oxybate effectively reduces excessive daytime drowsiness linked with narcolepsy" (Ninds). Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is considered the hardest sleep disorder to diagnose with three forms: obstructive, central and complex. Of these three types, obstructive sleep apnea is the most common one. "Apnea" literally means "without breath" (Sleep Foundation). Those suffering from obstructive sleep apnea experience disrupted breathing causing them to wake up multiple times during the night. When muscles at the back of

the throat fail to keep an open airway intact leading to collapse of windpipe. This halt in breathing usually lasts for about five to ten seconds creating an urge to breathe that wakes us up until we start breathing again thus falling asleep.

"Obstructive sleep apnea impacts over 18 million adults in the United States." (Sleep Foundation) This condition affects both genders, though it is more prevalent in men. Despite being uncommon, children are also susceptible to sleep apnea. Depression, mood swings due to lack of sleep, sexual issues, and concentration problems count among the frequent symptoms of this disorder. Snoring is regularly identified as the primary indicator of this condition. Given that all types of sleep apnea pose a risk to life, immediate diagnosis and treatment are crucial. It's typically beneficial if a bed partner monitors and records your sleep habits for multiple nights to gather relevant information.

Securing a diagnosis before initiating the treatment journey is crucial, and it can be accomplished through a sleep study. These studies help track different elements to ascertain if we have mild or severe apnea during our sleep. After the successful completion of such studies, we can start with the treatment. Although there are numerous strategies for handling sleep apnea, none offers an outright cure. Sleeping on either side could potentially lessen throat muscle tension and subsequently lower occurrences of airway blockages.

Obstructive sleep apnea is primarily treated using a continuous positive airway pressure device (CPAP), which consists of a mask worn over the nose and/or mouth. It functions by mildly pushing air into the respiratory tract to maintain its openness during sleep, as recommended by the Sleep Foundation. Additionally,

enhancements in our daily lifestyle practices can significantly improve our sleep quality. Such improvements involve avoiding alcohol consumption, adopting healthier dietary habits, engaging in regular physical activities and so forth. Individuals who smoke, have elevated blood pressure levels, are overweight or possess genetic vulnerability are at an increased risk of acquiring this condition.

The rise of technology has reshaped our comprehension of sleep. It's becoming apparent that sleep isn't merely a phase of rest - various parts of our bodies, especially our brains continue to be active while we're asleep. The sleeping patterns we adopt have profound effects on both our waking life and sleeping hours alike if not more so for the former. Continuous research on diverse phases of sleep is allowing scientists to delve deeper into understanding brain activity during slumber. As they accumulate more information about these nocturnal brain operations, it enhances their capability to manage numerous health issues beyond those associated with sleeping.

Sources

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcolepsy/basics/definition/con-20027429

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sleep-apnea/DS00148