Learn about the causes of Sleep Disorders & find a practitioner in Auckland, Hamilton, Bay of
Plenty, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin to help you overcome Sleep Disorders within New
Zealand.
Therapies which may benefit Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders are syndromes that cause persistent sleep disturbance.
Sleep disorders can cause emotional distress and inability to function
at home or at work. The most common sleep disorders are insomnia,
sleepwalking, restless leg syndrome and breathing obstruction (known as
sleep apnea). Sleep disorders can also be caused by substances (drugs,
caffeine, alcohol), psychological issues (depression, anxiety) or
neurological conditions (Parkinson's, Huntington's).
Causes of sleep disorders 
The actual causes of many sleep disorders are not fully understood
however there is growing evidence which suggests certain factors can
lead to problems with sleep. There are a number of different types of
sleep disorder and the main ones are listed below.
Sleep apnoea
Sleep
apnoea refers to conditions that restrict airflow through the upper
airway while asleep. The sound created by this problem is known as
'snoring' which is the vibration of soft tissue in the nose, mouth and
throat.
Common causes of sleep apnoea include:
- being overweight or obese
- nasal congestion (e.g. from a cold)
- abnormal jaw position or nasal cavities
- hypothyroidism
- enlarged tonsils
- enlarged adenoids
When
breathing is completely disrupted during sleep the condition is known
as obstructive sleep apnoea. Central sleep apnoea refers to a condition
which affects the brain's ability to stimulate breathing while asleep.
The common reason for this is heart failure or problems with the
central nervous system.
Insomnia
There
are many causes for insomnia and it is the most common of all the sleep
disorders. Insomnia causes difficulty with getting to sleep or staying
asleep.
Insomnia can be caused by:
- Stress
- Depression
- Stimulants (e.g. caffeine)
- Medications
- Drug or alcohol use
- Bad sleeping habits (such as watching television in bed)
Parasomnias
This
is an umbrella term for sleep disorders such as sleepwalking, night
terrors, sleep paralysis or REM behaviour disorders (whereby the
individual acts out their dreams). Causes of parasomnias include
psychiatric problems, drug use or certain medical conditions such as
Parkinson's disease.
Restless Legs Syndrome
This
tends to be a hereditary condition (runs in families) although
secondary problems such as iron deficiency, diabetes mellitus,
rheumatism, pregnancy, MS or Parkinson's disease can also cause the
syndrome.
Circadian Rhythm Disorders
The
circadian rhythm is the natural sleep-wake cycle that most people
experience (waking on daylight and sleeping during the night). However,
people who work shift patterns or have travelled across time-zones can
have this cycle disrupted. People who are blind may have circadian
rhythm problems.
Narcolepsy
The three potential causes of narcolepsy are a loss of neurotransmitting signals, genetic factors or rare lesions on the brain.
Symptoms of sleep disorders
The different types of sleep disorders have certain characteristics
which define them but the common symptom for all is a disruption to
natural sleep. The common sleep disorders and their symptoms are listed
below.
- Sleep apnoea – interrupted sleep caused by the windpipe closing. Symptoms include snoring, gasping for air, morning headaches.
- Insomnia –
inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. Feeling tired during the day
and worrying about not getting enough sleep. Judgement can become
impaired and a person may also experience drowsiness, poor memory and
lowered immunity.
- Parasomnias
– sleep paralysis results in an inability to move the limbs which
causes distress and anxiety on waking. Night terrors differ from
nightmares in that they can not be recalled on waking. A person might
scream when they wake and experience excessive sweating and increased
heart rate. Night terrors can also cause someone to sleepwalk.
- Restless leg syndrome
– the symptoms include a prickly or tingling sensation in the legs
causing a person to move their legs for relief. The jerking movements
can occur up to three times a minute.
- Circadian rhythm disorders
– reduced or unnatural sleep can have associated physical symptoms such
as fatigue and poor concentration as well as psychological effects such
as mood problems, stress and anxiety.
- Narcolepsy
- the main symptom of narcolepsy is falling asleep uncontrollably
during the day. This can last anywhere from a minute to half an hour
and occur at any time.
Diagnosis of sleep disorders
t
is important to seek a medical diagnosis for sleep problems as
insufficient sleep can have a significant detrimental effect on
physical and mental wellbeing.
In the first instance, you should
visit your GP who will assess you for any underlying conditions which
may be causing the problem. If necessary, you will be referred to a
specialist for further testing.
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