Insomnia - Cause of Sleeplessness

Insomnia - Cause of Sleeplessness

Insomnia is sometimes the symptom of another problem. The common cause for sleeping problems can be related to stress and anxiety, illness or struggling with other difficult issues such as relationship problems. Other common causes include noise, difficult working hours, too much caffeine or alcohol consumption.
Insomnia is also very common in older people. Good news is that most of these problems can be treated fairly easily without turning to prescribed drugs. So the common causes are:
· Psychological problems that can cause insomnia - anxiety and depression are the most common causes of insomnia
· Medications and medical problems that can cause insomnia
· Sleep disorders that can cause insomnia such as sleep apnea

What Is Sleep Apnoea?

What Is Sleep Apnoea?

Sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder which causes sufferers' airway muscles to relax whilst they are sleeping. Unfortunately, the muscles relax to the point where the airways collapses, causing frequent, short pauses in breathing. The disorder is commonly associated with people who snore, although not all snorers have sleep apnoea.
The pauses in breathing mean that sufferers' sleep is disturbed and interrupted and is therefore of poor quality. Unfortunately, the disorder very often goes undiagnosed, with many sufferers going years or decades before they are treated. These sufferers tend to become accustomed to the tiredness, lack of co-ordination and irritability they feel during the daytime because their sleep is being interrupted at night. Diagnosis must be made after a sleep study, but before a patient is asked to take part in a sleep study, a loved one often recognises a problem, or a doctor becomes suspicious that symptoms presented suggest interrupted sleep.

Apnoea Worsens Strokes

Apnoea Worsens Strokes

Apnoea sufferers are more likely to have a stroke and highly likely to experience worse outcomes after stroke, according to a recent study reported in the Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases. This article discusses these and associated findings from the study.
According to the study, patients who are at high risk for ischaemic heart disease should be routinely checked for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Early findings from the study suggest the prevalence of OSA in this group could be as high as 60%.
The study examined the correlation of obstructive sleep apnoea with age, sex, ischaemic stroke subtype, disability and death. Patients with a high likelihood of having sleep apnoea were identified via use of the Berlin Sleep Questionnaire.

Identifying Sleep Disorders

Identifying Sleep Disorders

The definition of a sleep disorder is a condition that prevents someone from getting sleep or maintaining a normal sleep pattern. This can result in dysfunction or sleepiness during the day.
To determine if you are suffering from a sleep problem a simple self assessment will be helpful. It will also help you determine if you have a serious problem requiring a physicians professional help or you require simple lifestyle changes or home remedy aids.
Do You currently....
Have difficulty staying awake while you are sitting still i.e. reading or watching tv? Feel tired when driving or fall asleep? Have focusing or concentration problems? Have other people tell you that you look tired? Have slow reaction time? Have trouble controlling you emotions? Often feel irritable, agitated and tired? Feel like you need to take a nap often? Require stimulants to help keep you awake like caffeinated beverages?