Sleep Disorder

What Is A Sleep Disorder?

A sleep disorder is largely a mental disruption that is keeping you from receiving a full night’s rest. Sleep disorders can be triggered by stress, anxiety, depression, excess weight gain, lack of exercise, recent trauma, and change in hormone balance. Sleep disorder symptoms, such as insomnia, sleep deprivation, and restless legs syndrome can reduce your much-needed sleep, which may lead to various health complications.

It is suggested that individuals need to receive at least eight hours of rest a night. This is the necessary amount of time your body needs in order to regenerate new cells, repair muscle tissue, strengthen immunity, and replenish energy cells.

Insomnia

Insomnia is a sleep disorder where one cannot fall asleep, remain asleep, or both. According to the National Centre for Sleep Disorders Research, about 30-40% of adults state that they experience symptoms of insomnia. Individuals who suffer from insomnia oftentimes sleep decently for a few nights followed by a few nights of inadequate rest. (1)

Jet Lag

Jet lag is a sleep disorder that occurs when you travel to a different time zone. Each of our bodies contains a biological clock that is aware of when it’s time to rest and when it’s time to wake. If we travel through a different time zone, our biological clocks do not change to the new time, but remain the same, thus we may start to feel tired and ready for bed at an earlier time than normal, which can increase the risks of experiencing other sleep disorders, such as insomnia and sleep deprivation.

Sleep Deprivation

It is said that individuals should receive at least eight hours of sleep a night. Sleep deprivation is a sleep disorder that happens when you are not getting enough sleep and it becomes a habit. Sleep deprivation can lead to feelings of irritability, depression, and anxiety, as well as constant fatigue, lack of concentration, forgetfulness, and other sleep disorders, such as insomnia.

Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a sleep disorder where you have the urge to move your legs while you’re trying to fall asleep. It often starts with an uncomfortable feeling in your legs, and may lead to sleep deprivation or other sleep disorder symptoms if it is not properly treated.

(1)Insomnia and Sleep; National Sleep Foundation.