Symptoms of Sleeping Disorders

Symptoms of sleeping disorders may be different in cases of children, adults and also animals. If you are shocked to see the mention of animals, then you will be surprised further on knowing that animals can also suffer from sleep disorders like sleep apnea.

Sleep is essential for all of us, including animals, to rejuvenate and revitalize the body for the next day. Many important body processes such as repairs of damages and release of certain hormones (for e.g. melatonin) takes place during the night. If a person is not able to catch a good night sleep for a few days in a row, then the body starts exhibiting the symptoms of sleeping disorder.

The most commonly visible symptoms of sleeping disorder is daytime sleepiness, felling tired and drowsy, getting irritable etc. A person who has been living with sleep deprivation will have difficulties in understanding, learning and taking instructions.

Of all the victims of sleep disorders, the most pathetic situation is that of infant sleeping disorders. In this case, parents can hardly do anything except for cuddling and consoling the baby. It can leave the entire family drained. Infant sleep disorder doesn't have many visible symptoms of sleeping disorder other than a crying and desperate baby and this feeling makes the parents helpless.

One of the most serious sleep disorders is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which is characterized by periodic obstruction of the upper airway during sleep. Such episodes of apnea (cessation of breath) may last up to 90 seconds and can occur several times per night. OSA is more common in men than women. Symptoms of sleeping disorder include loud snoring, breathlessness during sleep, choking or air gasping during sleep etc.

Narcolepsy is yet another sleeping disorder. It is a condition where in the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep cannot be inhibited during waking periods. REM sleep is known to be the deep sleep and a good quality of REM sleep is necessary for the body to undergo the recharging process. Symptoms of sleeping disorders include excessive sleepiness, cataplexy (physical weakness), hypnagogic hallucinations etc. It can also lead to sleep paralysis.

Diagnostic Tests to Determine the Symptoms of Sleeping disorder

When the sleeping problems persist for longer duration and a person cannot succeed in getting relief then next option is to consult a physician or a sleep specialist.

The physician would like to do a general body test to examine the blood pressure and heart rate etc. Obesity and high blood pressure are often the most common reasons for people to have sleeping disorders. A sleep test or a Polysomnography can be performed during the sleep to test the sleeping cycle. The sleep test can determine the quantity of REM and NREM sleep that a person has. An interview with the specialist and the findings in the test reports normally enable the doctor to understand the symptoms of sleeping disorder and thereby decide on the treatment to be followed for that particular sleep problem.

However, in cases such as narcolepsy, the symptoms of the sleeping disorder may not be sufficient for the doctor to determine which sleep problem you have. These are related to the faulty genes that the person carries. In such cases, the person may have to undergo certain other tests for determining the sleeping disorder.

Related articles

New Information on Sleeping Disorders

Life Cycle Sleep Disorders

Information on Sleep Disorders and How To Handle Them

The Myths of Paralysis Sleeping Disorder

REM Sleep Disorder vs REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

Important Sleep Disorder Information

Is Melatonin a Good Sleep Disorder Remedy?

How to Solve Your Sleep Problem

Sleeping Disorder Treatment

The Best Treatment for Sleeping Disorders

Treatments For Fibromyalgia Sleep Disorder

What Is The Best Medication for Sleep Disorder?

Is Sleep Disorder Medicine Effective?

Where To Find Good Sleep Disorder Center

Stop Snoring With Sleep Disorder Clinic