Sleep is often elusive for a large number of Havertown residents. A lack of sleep is annoying and can not only leave you feeling sluggish and groggy the next day, but it can lead to problems with memory and concentration and may negatively affect your mood, personal relationships, and on-the-job performance. Worse still, some sleep disorders can have a serious impact on your overall health and quality of life.
Determining whether you have a sleeping disorder can literally save your life!
What is a Sleep Disorder?
We all experience a restless night from time to time. One night spent tossing and turning does not qualify as a sleep disorder! Only when the issue becomes chronic – say, three or four nights a week, persisting for several months – will your Havertown ENT specialist begin to consider the idea that you might have a sleep disorder. You might be asked to undergo a home or lab-based sleep study in order to diagnose whether you do suffer from a sleep disorder and, if so, what type. Insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome are the most common sleep disorders.
What Your Bedtime Habits Say About You
Before you even schedule an appointment with a sleep specialist, taking a close look at your bedtime habits can often shed light on the possibility that you have a sleep disorder. Signs to watch for include the following:
- You lie awake thinking about things. It’s common to briefly think about your day when going to bed, but if you toss and turn, focusing on specific events and worrying about things, minutes can turn into hours and before you know it, dawn is creeping in around the blinds. If you can’t “turn off your brain” once you climb into the sheets, you may be suffering from insomnia.
- You aim for an earlier bedtime whenever possible. Some nights you’ll find yourself nodding off in front of the TV while watching “Modern Family,” unable to keep your eyes open regardless of how funny Phil Dunphy is that week, before giving up and heading for bed early. This is perfectly normal. But when you consistently crawl into bed early in an attempt to offset a previous sleepless night, you can actually worsen your insomnia. Experts recommend sticking to the same bedtime every night, even on weekends, to get your body used to a routine and improve your chances of a good night’s sleep.
- You feel wide awake once you go to bed. If your eyes are getting heavy as the evening progresses but you suddenly feel wide awake once you go to bed, you are experiencing the classic signs of insomnia. Worse, this can become a vicious cycle, causing you worry every night and exacerbating the problem.
- You fall asleep, only to wake up later. It’s great to fall asleep easily but waking up several times throughout the night is not normal and can prevent you from receiving the quality sleep your body requires. Humans are programmed to rise with the sun, feel energetic through the day, and then gradually wind down and relax as night falls. If your internal clock doesn’t seem to pay attention to these natural circadian rhythms, you may be dealing with stress or hormonal issues.
- It takes you longer than 30 minutes to fall asleep. Most people fall asleep in about 15 minutes. If it takes you half an hour or longer on a consistent basis, you are likely experiencing insomnia.
- You fall asleep the second your head hits the pillow. On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you knock out within seconds of closing your eyes, you may not be getting enough quality sleep.
- You snore when you sleep. Snoring is common, but that doesn’t mean it’s normal – especially when accompanied by pauses in breathing, morning headaches, dry mouth, and daytime fatigue. These are symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder than can cause significant health complications.
- You can’t stop moving your legs. Twitchy legs that may feel itchy and compel you to move around constantly to find a comfortable spot are a sign of restless leg syndrome, a sleep disorder that affects millions of Americans.
If you – or somebody sleeping in your bed (but not the dog) – is experiencing any of these signs, consider scheduling an appointment with your Havertown ENT specialist in order to test for a sleep disorder.