Problems falling asleep, waking up, breathing problems (including common snoring) affect how and how much we sleep. Sleep disorders contribute to health problems, including mental disorders 1 . They often accompany depression and various types of anxiety disorders 2 . When we have problems with sleep, we often ignore them or look for the easiest solution. We go to the pharmacy to get the medicine. This trend has gained momentum in recent years. According to international research on sleep quality during the pandemic, the consumption of sleeping pills has increased by 20% 3 .
The term "sleep problems" is too broad to have a universal solution. Scientists have been intensively studying sleep disorders for the last 40 years. More than 100 disorders have been described in detail. They differ in their causes, symptoms, and the medical and psychological consequences they lead to 4 . Symptoms that signal that we have a sleep disorder and should take a closer look at our lifestyle or seek specialist help include:
The longer we ignore these symptoms, the greater the chance that serious disorders will develop.
If you want to sleep but still can't fall asleep or wake up during the night, you may be suffering from insomnia. It is often accompanied by excessive daytime sleepiness and problems with concentration . Research shows that 1/3 of people (adults) suffer from it.
Interestingly, every third person does not realize that the difficulties they experience during the day result from insomnia 5 . Insomnia impairs not only cognitive abilities. It increases the risk of diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure and heart disease 6 .
A number of factors make some people more susceptible to insomnia. Applies to older people, those who are under a lot of stress, work night shifts and those whose families have had this condition 7 . There is no universal medicine. The doctor will probably recommend changing your lifestyle , avoiding stress and stimulants, and properly preparing your bedroom. Read more tips on how to sleep well here .
It is believed that adults should sleep 7-9 hours a day. However, this is not possible when a child appears in the family. Men then lose 13 minutes of sleep a night, while women lose at least 8 hours. Scientists say that the way we slept before becoming parents will only return to normal when the child turns 6. This is also why young mothers are exposed to insomnia, neurosis, depression and general fatigue . Lack of sleep worsens the symptoms of postpartum depression, which affects 1 in 8 women 9 .
About 10% of people who snore probably have obstructive sleep apnea . It is a disease with frequent, cyclical stops or restrictions in air flow. Many people are not aware that they have this disease. However, untreated apnea, if it lasts 10 years, increases the risk of death by approximately 40-50%. We devoted a separate article to snoring.
Sleep disorders seriously disrupt the rhythm of life, and one of those that is extremely difficult to function with is narcolepsy . It is a disorder associated with sudden attacks of uncontrolled sleepiness that occur during the day. They can appear at any time, causing dangerous situations. For example, when the sick person is behind the wheel of a car. It cannot be cured, but medications will help control it enough to lead a normal life. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
The symptoms of narcolepsy are quite obvious and dangerous. These include cataplexy. It is sudden relaxation of all muscles, causing the person experiencing the attack to be unable to maintain an upright position. Another symptom is sleep paralysis , which causes the patient to be unable to speak or move. This sleep disorder may also manifest itself in the form of hallucinations 10 . Narcolepsy occurs in one in 2,000 people. people in the USA and Europe 11 .
Restless legs syndrome is a sleep disorder that affects approximately 10% of the population. The patient has an urge to move his legs , sometimes accompanied by other sensory symptoms in the legs. They occur in the evening and when going to sleep, and disappear with exercise. RLS greatly impairs the quality of sleep and, consequently, life. This disease is treated pharmacologically 12 . Specialists also recommend lifestyle changes and stretching exercises before bed 13 .
RLS is more common in women than in men. Patients with renal failure are at risk. Iron deficiency also favors the development of this disease 14 .
The coronavirus pandemic has changed our entire lives. Specialists talk about an "explosion of insomnia" during the pandemic, which they anecdotally call "coronasomnia". On the one hand, it is caused by stress, and on the other, it is one of the consequences of contracting COVID- 1915 . More and more experts consider insomnia as a result of the pandemic to be a separate sleep disorder. You can read more about it in a separate article .
Bibliography: Suni E., “Mental health and sleep”. Sleep Foundation, September 18, 2020 Franzen PL, Buysse DJ, “Sleep disturbances and depression: risk relationships for subsequent depression and therapeutic implications.” Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2008 Mandelkorn U., Genzer S., Choshen-Hillel S. et al., “Escalation of sleep disturbances amid the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional international study.” Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, January 1, 2021. Pacheco D., “Sleep Disorders”, Sleep Foundation, December 1, 2020. Bhaskar S., Hemavathy D., Prasad S., “Prevalence of chronic insomnia in adult patients and its correlation with medical complications.” J Family Med Prime Care. 2016 “Insomnia,” National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, accessed December 1, 2021. As above. Richter D., Krämer MD, Tang NKY, Montgomery-Downs HE, Lemola S., “Long-term effects of pregnancy and childbirth on sleep satisfaction and duration of first-time and experienced mothers and fathers.” Sleep, April 1, 2019 Pacheco D., “How does being a new parent affect sleep?” Sleep Foundation, November 3, 2021 Suni E., “Narcolepsy. What it is, its causes, and the steps that can help manage it”, Sleep Foundation, accessed December 1, 2021. “Narcolepsy”, MedlinePlus, accessed December 1, 2021. Siemiński M., Nyka WM, Nitka-Siemińska A., "Restless legs syndrome in general medical practice", Family Medicine Forum 2008, Fry A., “Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). What it is, its causes and symptoms, and how it can be addressed to improve sleep. Sleep Foundation, October 2, 2020 Siemiński M., Nyka WM, Nitka-Siemińska A., "Restless legs syndrome in general medical practice", Forum of Family Medicine 2008. Coronasomnia, Pandemic-Induced Insomnia, Is Not Just An Anecdotal Phenomenon”, npr.org., September 18, 2021
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Napisała: Anna Stachowiak
Journalist, editor. Mainly interested in social and health issues. Publishes in the weekly " Przegląd ". A lover of active recreation, a healthy lifestyle, testing theories in practice and delving deeper into the topic. Privately, she is the mother of a rebellious 3-year-old and a yoga adept.
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