Sleep Disorder Indicators
We sleep approximately 8h of each 24-h cycle, that is 1/3rd of our life, But sleep disorders are often neglected by patients and doctors compared to other medical illness, because
- Dozed off in meetings, at work, during movies or while spending time with others.
- Drowsy while driving, has “driven on autopilot”.
- Unrefreshed and groggy when they get up from sleep.
- Feeling tired all the time, lack of energy
- Frequent caffeine intake to stay active
- Difficulty falling asleep at night or getting back to sleep after waking during the night.
- Waking up frequently during the night.
- Sleep feels light, fragmented, or unrefreshing.
- sleeping pills, nightcap, supplements in order to get to sleep.
- Sleepiness and low energy during the day
- Loud snoring, which is usually more prominent in obstructive sleep apnea
- Observed episodes of breathing cessation during sleep
- Abrupt awakenings accompanied by shortness of breath, which more likely indicates central sleep apnea
- Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Morning headache
- Shift work sleep disorder is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder that occurs when your work schedule and your biological clock are out of sync.
- In our 24-hour society, many workers have to work night shifts, early morning shifts, or rotating shifts.
- These schedules force you to work when your body is telling you to go to sleep and sleep when your body is signaling you to wake.
- “sleep attacks” while in the middle of talking, working, or even driving. Seeing or hearing things when you’re drowsy or starting to dream before you’re fully asleep.
- Suddenly feeling weak or losing control of your muscles when you’re laughing, angry, or experiencing other strong emotions.
- Dreaming right away after going to sleep or having intense dreams
- Feeling paralyzed and unable to move when you’re waking up or dozing off.
- Awakenings with heartburn, a sour or bitter taste
- Diagnoses of esophagitis, hiatal hernia, Barrets esophagus
Night time wheezing, asthma
- Screaming out
- Sleepwalking
- Sleep talking
- Tooth grinding
- Acting out of dreams in sleep
- Bedwetting
- episodes of blank staring without indications of sleepiness.
- abnormal smells, frequent deja vu or feelings of unreality.
- frequent tongue biting, convulsions, body or head jerks in their sleep.
- Feel irritable or drowsy during the day?
- Difficulty concentrating?
- People tell that you look tired?
- React slowly?
- Trouble controlling your emotions?
- Memory problems
Sleep apnea releases ANP (atrial naturitic peptide) which makes more urine to fill your bladder, and you get up often to urinate at night. CPAP treatment almost cures this problem.
