Doctor, what can you tell me about sleep disorders?
Sleep is a vital component of the human life cycle. We humans spend about one-third of our life sleeping. Most essential organs, mainly the brain and the heart, require an adequate amount of sleep to function properly. All other organs will be affected directly or indirectly by many sleep disorders.
Sleep disorders are, unfortunately, underreported and under diagnosed. Many people usually exhibit the effects of the sleep disorder during the daytime, and they do not link it to any sleep problem.
Here are some of the symptoms that should point toward a possible sleep problem: waking up not refreshed after adequate hours of sleep (seven to eight hours), early morning headaches, fatigue and tiredness, mood changes, easy irritability, falling asleep easily during inactivity, drinking a lot of caffeine (coffee, tea, colas, and energy drinks) to stay awake, and problems with focusing and memory.
There are two common sleep disorders you should know about. The first one is called sleep apnea, and it is mainly due to the periodic upper airway closure, which leads to periodic cessation of the air flow. This in turn causes periodic dropping in oxygen reaching the lungs, and ultimately all organs, including the brain and the heart. A lack of oxygen to the brain causes the brain to wake up frequently to open up the airways, which can lead to a disrupted sleep and feeling sleepy the next day.
The second one involves rhythmic movement of the legs before and during sleep, which also causes brain awakening (arousals) in spite of the patient being asleep, which will lead to the same outcome as above.
The best way to address any sleep disorder is to be evaluated by a sleep medicine specialist who can order any tests necessary to diagnose the specific problem and treat it appropriately.
Below I have included a simple questionnaire that will help you screen yourself for potential sleep disorders. The following are eight situations where you give a score of 0-3, where 0 is no chance of dozing, 1 is a slight chance of dozing, 2 is a moderate chance of dozing, and 3 is a high chance of dozing.
- Sitting and reading
- Watching TV
- Sitting inactive in public place
- As a passenger in a car for more than an hour
- Lying down to rest in the afternoon
- Sitting and talking to someone
- Sitting quietly after lunch
- In a car, while stopped for a few minutes in traffic
If you scored less than 8, your chance of having a sleep disorder is low. If you scored between 8-15, there is a moderate chance you have a sleep disorder. If you scored above 15 there is a high chance of having a sleep disorder, and it is a good idea to consult with a sleep specialist.