Together with eating a healthy diet and drinking the recommended amount of water, getting enough sleep can help you maintain your healthy lifestyle. Often overlooked, sleep helps keep your hormone levels, mood, weight and work or school performance on the right path. It also prevents physical, mental, social and emotional problems from developing.
But, for many in Boone, getting enough sleep is much easier said than done. Almost 75 percent of Americans report suffering from a sleep disorder on a regular basis. While there are more than 100 types of disorders, the most common ones are:
- Snoring
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
- Central sleep apnea (CSA)
- Insomnia
- Narcolepsy
- Parasomnia (abnormal movements and behavior during sleep)
- Hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness)
- Restless leg syndrome
- Circadian rhythm disorders
Sleep Disorder Symptoms
Allergies and colds, chronic diseases, pain, stress and anxiety are the most commonly reported causes of sleep disorders. Most of these conditions have similar symptoms including:
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Irritability
- Lack of concentration
- Memory loss and depression
What Is Sleep Apnea?
The most common sleep disorder is sleep apnea. This sleep disorder occurs when an individual experiences one or more pauses in their breathing or shallow breathing while asleep. These pauses can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. Breathing typically begins again and is sometimes accompanied by snorting or choking.
In order to confirm what is causing your sleeping problems, your Boone ENT will order a sleep study. Also called a polysomnography, a sleep study can be conducted in a sleep lab or in the comfort of your own home. During this study your brain waves, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, sleep stages, movement and breathing rate are measured.
Once your Boone doctor has determined your sleep disorder, they will develop an individualized treatment plan. This plan usually involves a combination of medications and lifestyle changes. Surgery may be an option for certain breathing-related disorders, such as snoring or sleep apnea.