Maintaining optimal overall health requires adequate nutrition, regular physical activity, mental well-being and a good night’s sleep. Knowing that, when was the last time you got a good night’s sleep? If you can’t remember, then now is the time to educate yourself on the different sleep disorders and how they affect your health and well-being.
Here are three common sleep disorders that might be impacting your overall health and well-being.
Snoring
This is the most common form of disruption when it comes to sleeping. Snoring occurs when the flow of air through the mouth and nose is physically obstructed. Habitual snorers run the risk of serious health issues, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), heart disease, and even hypertension. If your snoring is accompanied by daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, unrefreshing sleep or getting up frequently during the night to urinate, it indicates your snoring is affecting your quality of sleep.
To diagnose sleep apnea, you will need to complete an at-home sleep study. Once you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, Dr. Mayoor Patel can work with you to create a comfortable treatment plan with oral appliance therapy. By treating sleep apnea (and your snoring), you can further prevent heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other complications. What are you waiting for?
Insomnia
Characterized by the inability to initiate sleep, insomnia might seem like a mild disorder, but it can go on to become an unbearable one. If you suffer from insomnia you might experience acute anxiety, dizziness and hypertension. It is important to seek treatment for insomnia in its early stages to prevent further complications. Some treatment options might include sleep hygiene, relaxation therapy, control of stimuli and sleep restriction.
Restless leg syndrome
Restless leg syndrome is the urge to move your legs. This condition is usually worse during the evenings and is accompanied by uncomfortable sensations like itching, gnawing or creepy-crawling. As a result, this can cause sleep initiation insomnia in some sufferers. It is also associated with another disorder called periodic limb movement disorder of sleep. Your bed partner may notice frequent leg movements throughout the night, and while they might be small and unnoticeable, it can be highly detrimental to your sleep quality.
To learn more about sleep disorders and what you can do to find relief, contact Dr. Mayoor Patel today.
