Sleep Disorders Issues - Coursework Example

Sleep Disorders Name Institution Instructor Date Abstract Sleep is an important part of a healthy person’s daily routine. Everyone needs ample sleep of 7 to 10 hours every day. Lack of enough sleep may have detrimental effects on one’s life and may ruin the quality of life of an individual. The brain regulates sleeping patterns and any disorder in it may disrupt the sleeping pattern and consequently result to sleep disorder. In essence, sleep disorder is a deviation from the norm in regard to the sleeping pattern of an individual. Unmanaged sleep disorders can result to grave medical and safety issues. There exist rampant cases of varying sleep disorders in general population. Many of these disorders go unnoticed until such a time when they exacerbate underlying psychiatric and medical conditions. In most cases, sleep disorders retard occupational performance, cause road accidents, endocrine and cardiovascular disorders and exaggerated pain perception. This paper will focus on varying types of sleep disorders, their causes, effects and possible cure and control. Extensive sourcing of information from academic journals will form a basis of this research and findings will be based on results from experiments and studies that have been conducted in the academic journals. Introduction Sleep is a necessity in sustaining a state of well-being and good health. After a long day straining the muscles and engaging the brain, there is every need to allow the body an opportunity to restore balances and make necessary repairs. It has been documented that during sleep, the immune system synthesizes immune cells to fight against infections while the endocrine system and the pituitary are busy synthesizing growth hormones to repair worn out tissues. The mind uses this time to organize and store memories of activities that happened during the day. Sleep disorders affect these important activities and may result to grave conditions if not well addressed early. Several factors have been attributed to development of sleep disorders. Some of the causes are medical in nature while others are psychological. It has also been shown that a person’s genome may play a part in development of sleep disorders which means that it can be inherited among generations. An individual may also experience changes in sleep patterns in regard to age, diet, medications or some environmental changes such as change in working shifts. Understanding of normal and deviating sleeping patterns is paramount as it could help in prevention of deteriorated conditions that are characteristic in persons that suffer from sleep disorders. In the same regarding, understanding the causes, methods of prevention and cure is of utmost importance. This paper objectively focuses on causes, general and specific symptoms and preventive measures that can help ease the trauma caused by sleeping disorders. The research will seek to find answers to questions such as how to know one has a sleeping disorder. It will also seek to explain the effects of sleep disorder as well as look into the different types of sleep disorders. Causes of sleep disorders Dietary habits are a major cause of sleep disorder in most people. Healthy eating habits are recommended for many reasons one of which is to prevent sleep disorders. Individuals who eat the wrong foods at the wrong time are most likely to experience sleep disorders. These could be associated with impaired digestion and consequently stomach upsets. It is important to understand that one cannot have smooth sleep with a bloated stomach or general stomach ache. Observing good dietary habits and avoidance of poor dietary habits is important and may help in restoring a good sleeping pattern. Emotional upset is another factor that contributes significantly to sleep disorders (Breslau et al., 1996). Stress and depression are strenuous to the mind and as well disrupt the sleeping pattern of an individual. The bedroom environment is also an important consideration that may affect the sleeping pattern. Characteristically, too noisy, hot or cold bedrooms may not be the best and could as well be a cause to sleeping disorders (Breslau et al., 1996). Physical exercises are stimulating factor to metabolism whose effects may take longer to settle. It is therefore argued that such exercises close to bedtime should be avoided. Some medical conditions as well have been associated with disruption of sleeping patterns (Breslau et al., 1996). Diet pills, asthma and blood pressure drugs have been shown to disrupt sleeping patterns. Sometimes, suffering from diseases of conditions that cause chronic pain also disrupts sleeping patterns. Consumption of stimulants such as alcohol, caffeine and nicotine has detrimental effects in disrupting sleeping patterns (Breslau et al., 1996). Such have been shown to cause long periods without sleep. Anxiety and stress as well induce sleep disorder. Types of sleeping disorders Insomnia Insomnia refers to a sleep disorder where the patient has difficulty in falling asleep also called sleep-onset insomnia or having difficulty in remaining asleep a condition referred to as sleep-maintenance insomnia (Ohayon & Roth 2001). The latter condition is characterized by frequent nocturnal awakenings or non-restorative sleep. It is approximated that about 9 to 15 percent of the US population have shown symptoms of chronic insomnia (Ohayon & Roth 2001). In the UK, the prevalence rate of insomnia accounts for 16.8 percent. Among these, sources have shown that 64.5 percent have shown associated psychiatric disorders and comorbid sleep (Ohayon & Roth 2001). As Ohayon (2002) explains among the population older than 65 years, more than a third has shown symptoms of chronic insomnia. It is believed that this has greatly been as a result of comorbid medical problems, social life dissatisfaction and physical inactivity among the aged population (Ohayon, 2002). Insomnia patients risk increased chances of contracting conditions such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Chronic insomnia has been attributed to deleterious effect in relation to the patients psychiatric and comorbid medical conditions (Ohayon & Roth 2001). Apart from adverse medical concern of the patient, insomnia can also cause public health hazards and risks such as road accidents and occupational faults. Primary insomnia is further classified into idiopathic insomnia, paradoxical insomnia, and psychophysiologic insomnia (Ohayon, 2002). Idiopathic insomnia patients have pervasive disturbance in sleep in their entire life. The condition offsets during childhood and persist throughout their life. Such people face the risk of developing depression. More serious medical condition usually results from extensive use of pharmacologic sleep aids or alcohol. Daytime sleepiness is characteristic of paradoxical insomnia. In this type of insomnia, there is no evidence of disrupted sleeping patterns and these patients usually have normal sleep patterns. Psychophysiologic insomnia results from maladaptive sleeping patterns of thought, somatic tension, hypervigilance, and anxiety (Ohayon & Roth 2001). It is believed that the condition results from heightened levels of catecholamine, increased metabolism in the central nervous system, changes in heart beat rate, elevated body temperature and basal metabolic rate. Varied treatment plans have proved effective in managing insomnia. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) offers a first-line therapy for comorbid and primary insomnia. Some other pharmacologic therapy can be used in combination with CBT. It has been shown that CBT have long-term benefits in restoration of sleeping patterns (Ohayon & Roth 2001). Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) OSA refers to characteristic disordered breathing during sleep. This is as a result of obstruction in the upper airway which creates reduced oxygenation of blood and abbreviated arousals from sleep (Guilleminault & Abad, 2004). This sleeping disorder affects both children and adults. It is estimated that the prevalence among men and women aged between 30 and 60 years is 4 percent and 2 percent respectively (Guilleminault & Abad, 2004). The likelihood of contracting the disorder is heightened by risk factors such as age, high cholesterol levels and obesity. People who snore have also been shown to be more likely to suffer from this disorder. Managing this disorder is of paramount importance. Strategies that aim to minimize obstruction in the airways are encouraged in people who have OSA. Such strategies include sleeping elevated head, avoidance of alcohol and avoiding lying face up. Other treatment procedures in difficult situation may include surgical treatment. Procedure such as uvulopalatopharyngengoplasty which help in reducing the bulk of soft tissue is important in managing OSA especially in patients with cardiovascular morbidity (Guilleminault & Abad, 2004). Narcolepsy This condition is characterized by excessive daytime sleeping which recur daily for a period exceeding three months. In this condition, the patient suffer from hypnagogic hallucinations, cataplexy and sleep paralysis (Hoban & Chervin, 2006). Patients with this condition suffer from fulminate self-limited instances of loss of waking muscle tone which is triggered by emotions and laughter. The prevalence of this condition remains low and is estimated to affect 0.02 to 0.18 percent of population in Europe and the US (Hoban & Chervin, 2006). The condition affects people of any age but it has been documented that it is more commonly diagnosed before the age of 25 years. Women are less likely to be affected by this condition than men (Hoban & Chervin, 2006). Narcolepsy has been attributed to both environmental factors and genetic predisposition. It has been described hypothetically that some autoimmune conditions result to degeneration of hypothalamic neurons and consequent loss of neuropeptide hypocretin which controls muscle tone when one is awake (Hoban & Chervin, 2006). The condition can be controlled by use of pharmacologic therapies and nonpharmacologic practices such as observing regular bedtimes and timed power naps. Circadian rhythm sleep disorder This condition refers to the body’s synchronization to external stimuli to follow a certain rhythm in a 24-hour cycle (Lu et al., 2006). The condition hypothetically has effect on sleep pattern, cortisol release, melatonin levels and body temperature. Individuals who are positive of this condition have shown chronic disturbances in their sleeping cycle. They have proved to suffer from either insomnia or hypersomnia (Lu et al., 2006). This has been described to result from misalignment between external influences and their internal circadian timing. The most conventional symptom of this disorder is delayed sleep phase-type. This condition is shown by later than desired sleep and wake times. The condition is estimated to occur in about 7 percent of adolescents but the general prevalence is low up to about 0.17 percent (Lu et al., 2006). A lesser common symptom is advanced sleep phase-type. This condition is evidenced by sleeping and waking earlier than desired. Managing this condition can be difficulties and must consist of various modalities. Strategies to manage the condition include bright light therapy, melatonin of chronotherapy (Boeve et al., 2003). In bright light therapy, the patient is exposed to bright light for 2 to 3 hour sessions in the mornings. This helps in restoring the circadian rhythm to match the conventional sleeping time. Sometimes this is done in combination to light avoidance in the evening. Chronotherapy involves delaying sleeping time for the advanced sleep phase-type by a period of 2 to 3 hours until the body restores to conventional sleeping time (Lu et al., 2006). For patients with delayed sleep phase-type, melatonin taken in the afternoon is very helpful in restoring conventional sleep pattern (Boeve et al., 2003). Parasomnias Parasomias are undesirable experiences which occur during the transition between sleeping and waking (Mahowald et al., 2004). These experiences are usually demonstrative of activation of the central nervous system and usurpation of wakefulness into non-REM or REM sleep. The disorder is characterized by confusional arousals, nightmares or sleep terror (Mahowald et al., 2004). This condition is rampant in populations of between 4 to 12 years. It may as well occur in individuals of between the ages of 20 to 30 years (Mahowald et al., 2004). Management of this condition aims at reducing injurious behavior. Majorly, nonpharmacologic approaches are preferred and include avoidance of substances such as caffeine, antidepressants and alcohol (Mahowald et al., 2004). Some pharmacologic therapies such as dopamine agonists and tricyclic antidepressants are as well of significance in managing the condition. Restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder This condition is characterized by an urge to move legs and limbs during sleep. As Benes et al. (2007) defines it, “it is the movement-responsive quiescegenic nocturnal focal akathisia usually with dysesthesias”. The condition has a prevalence rate of 5 to 10 percent among populations in North America (Benes et al., 2007). Adults and women are more likely to suffer this condition in comparison to children and men. Pharmacologic therapies which include Dopaminergic medications and pramipexole have been approved effective in managing the condition (Winkelman et al., 2006). Iron supplements have also been recommended for patients who show iron deficiency. Conclusion Sleep disorders are rampant among general populations and significantly affect the mental, emotional and physical well being of an individual. If unmanaged, they can prove to be hazardous even to the general public. There exist varied types of sleep disorders that are distinguishable from the clinical and subclinical symptoms that they show. Attention is required to manage these conditions to control detrimental effects that they can impart on the patient and to the public. References Benes, H., Walters, A.S & Allen, R.P. (2007). Definition of restless legs syndrome, how to Diagnose it, and how to differentiate it from RLS mimics. MovDisord, 22(Suppl18): S401–8. Boeve, B.F., Silber, M.H & Ferman, T.J. (2003). Melatonin for treatment of REM sleep behavior disorder in neurologic disorders: results in 14 patients. SleepMed, 4(4):281–4 Breslau, N., Roth, T & Rosenthal, L. (1996). Sleep disturbance and psychiatric disorders: a longitudinal epidemiological study of young adults. BiolPsychiatry, 39(6):411–8. Guilleminault, C & Abad, V.C. (2004). Obstructive sleep apnea syndromes. MedClinNorthAm, 88:611–30. Hoban, T and Chervin, R. (2006). Hypersomnia and narcolepsy. In: Avidan, A., Zee. P. C. Editors. Handbook of sleep medicine. Philadelphia: LippincottWilliams&Wilkins Lu, B., Manthena, P & Zee, P. C. (2006). Circadian rhythm sleep disorders. In: Avidan, A., Zee, P. C, editors. Handbook of sleep medicine. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Mahowald, M.W., Bornemann, M. C & Schenck, C. H. (2004). Parasomnias. SeminNeurol, 24(3):283–92. Ohayon, M. M. (2002). Epidemiology of insomnia: what we know and what we still need to learn. SleepMedRev, 6(2): 97–111. Ohayon, M. M & Roth, T. (2001). What are the contributing factors for insomnia in the general population? JPsychosomRes, 51(6):745–55. Winkelman, J.W., Sethi, K.D., Kushida, C.A. (2006). Efficacy and safety of pramipexole in restless legs syndrome. Neurology, 67(6): 1034–9 Read More