Signs and Risk Factors
Understanding Sleep Disorders
Sleep is essential for your physical and mental health. Yet, many people struggle with sleep disorders that impact their daily lives. If you’re experiencing sleep difficulties, you’re not alone. This page aims to inform you about the common symptoms and risk factors of sleep disorders, empowering you to seek support and improve your sleep health.
Symptoms of Sleep Disorders
While symptoms vary depending on the specific disorder, here are some common signs that you might have a sleep issue:
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Taking more than 30 minutes to fall asleep regularly
- Trouble staying asleep
- Waking up frequently during the night and having difficulty falling back asleep
- Inability to move as you’re going to sleep or waking up
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Feeling excessively tired despite adequate sleep, requiring frequent naps, or struggling to stay awake during the day
- Snoring, gasping or choking during sleep
- These could be signs of sleep apnea, where breathing is interrupted during sleep
- Complete this simple quiz to see if you are at risk for obstructive sleep apnea
- Unusual movement during sleep
- Restless leg syndrome or periodic limb movement disorder can cause involuntary leg movements that disrupt sleep
- "Creepy-crawly" or twitching feeling in your calves, feet, thighs or arms
- Loss of muscle control
- Daytime dysfunction
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering things, or managing emotions due to sleep deprivation
If you experience any of these symptoms, please talk with your healthcare provider. They can help you identify the cause of your sleep problems and recommend appropriate treatment options.
Untreated sleep disorders can lead to serious health problems that include:
- Shortened lifespan
- Premature stroke
- Heart attack
- Lung disorders
- High blood pressure
- Increase risk of diabetes
Remember, you’re not alone: Sleep disorders are treatable, and with the right help, you can achieve a good night’s sleep and improve your overall health and well-being.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for having a sleep disorder vary, but can include:
- Family history of sleep disorders
- Physical abnormalities involving the upper airway
- Excess body weight
- Use of alcohol or medications that cause sleepiness
- Use of antidepressants
- Caffeine consumption
- Stress
- Chemical imbalance
- Autoimmune deficiency
- Disorder involving the neurological, metabolic or endocrine system, such as epilepsy
If you’re having trouble sleeping, our sleep specialists can help. They have extensive training in treatment options, effective medications and behavioral therapy, and provide the clinical expertise and diagnostic services to help you achieve a better night’s sleep. Our physicians are accredited by the American Academy for Sleep Medicine.
For more information or to make an appointment with a Summa Health sleep medicine specialist, call 330.835.5531.