With each passing year there is new research showing the sleep disorders are more prevalent and harmful than previously thought. However, we as individuals often overlook the signs and symptoms of an underlying condition that is both serious and treatable. Being aware of the common sleep conditions can help you know when to seek out medical advice and treatment to improve your sleep health.
Sufferers of obstructive sleep apnea experience a partial or complete interruption of breathing during sleep. This is caused by repeated collapse of the upper airway while sleeping. People with this condition are often tired during the day. They may also snore, wake up gasping or choking, or awake with a headache. 17% of the general population is thought to have OSA, but the prevalence is higher in men, in older people, and in those who are overweight or obese. A combination of these factors could see your chance of developing OSA reach as high as 49%.
Those with untreated OSA risk developing cardiovascular disease like heart attack, metabolic disease like diabetes, stroke, and depression. There are also the complications of being overly tired, such as decreased ability to learn and concentrate, poor performance at work, and increased chance of a motor vehicle accident.
OSA is typically diagnosed with a sleep study, which you can do at home or in a sleep lab. The best first step is to speak to your GP who can help organize the sleep study or send you to a specialist sleep physician.
If your study shows that you do have OSA, there are a number of treatment options. More mild forms of the condition can be managed by lifestyle modifications like weight loss and smoking cessation, or by a dental device called a Mandibular Advancement Splint, which pushes the jaw forward to help open the airway at night. The most effective treatment is a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP machine. This works by gently blowing pressurized air into your upper airway to prevent collapse. To learn more about CPAP, click here.
Like obstructive sleep apnea, CSA causes a disruption of breathing during sleep. However, in this condition the route cause is the interruption of the brain signals that control the muscles of breathing. In additional to the fatigue that can accompany any form of sleep apnea, CSA sufferers can also wake up feeling breathless, feel short of breath while lying down (orthopnea), or have chest pain. Other medical conditions like heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia and stroke can all contribute to the development of CSA. Central sleep apnea can then cause further cardiovascular problems.
Central sleep apnea can be diagnosed with an in lab sleep study. Specialist physician involvement is important, and CSA patients should see both a cardiologist and a sleep physician to make sure their heart and sleep problems are well managed. Treatment often involves the use of a positive pressure machine like CPAP, a ventilator like bi-level positive airway pressure (BPAP), or a more complex device like Adaptive Seroventilation (ASV).
Narcolepsy is a condition characterized by the uncontrollable urge to sleep during the day. While the exact cause is unknown, it is thought that the underproduction of certain brain chemicals (like hypocretin) are responsible for the disorder. Apart from attacks of sleepiness, sufferers can also experience a loss of voluntary muscle tone (cataplexy) and hallucinations that would only occur in health people as they were transitioning from wakefulness to sleep (hypnagogic hallucinations).
You are at higher risk of developing narcolepsy if you have a family history of the condition of if you have had brain injuries in the past. The chances of developing the disorder also increase with age. Sufferers often deal with personal and professional issues, including poor work performance, relationship problems, or stigma due to poor understanding of the disease. You are also at higher risk of injury when you have an episode.
Narcolepsy is diagnosed by a special type of sleep study called a Multiple Sleep Latency Test, or MSLT. This is carried out during the day and looks at how quickly you fall asleep. All patients with narcolepsy should be managed by a specialist sleep physician.
People with restless leg syndrome feel a discomfort in their lower limbs that is only relieved by moving their legs. They will move their legs around more during the transition from wakefulness to sleep and throughout the night. This causes a disruption of sleep, which leads to excessive daytime fatigue.
You are more likely to develop restless leg syndrome if you have a family history of the condition, or if you have another medical problem that effects the nervous system (e.g. peripheral neuropathy that can accompany diabetes).
You will most likely receive your diagnoses based on your description of your symptoms and a physical examination, although you may be asked to do an in-lab sleep study.
There are some medications that can be used to alleviate the symptoms. This condition is best managed by a specialist sleep physician.
Most of us have had nights where sleep just will not come. You might lie awake thinking about tomorrow, wake several times during the night, or find yourself staring at the clock far earlier than you would like. An occasional restless night is normal. But when poor sleep becomes a regular pattern and starts affecting your days, it may be insomnia.
Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder in Australia, with around one in three adults experiencing insomnia symptoms, and around 10 to 15% meeting the criteria for chronic insomnia.
Have you ever struggled to remember something after a poor night’s sleep, only to feel much sharper after getting some proper rest? There’s a good reason for that - Sleep does much more than help us feel refreshed. It gives the brain valuable time to organise, strengthen and store the information we pick up during the day.1
Scientists have studied the connection between sleep and memory for more than a century. We now know that different stages of sleep play important roles in memory consolidation, the process that helps turn new information and experiences into lasting memories.
If you’re over 60 and find yourself waking several times during the night, you’re certainly not alone. Sleep naturally changes with age. It tends to become lighter and more fragmented, with less time spent in deep sleep and more frequent awakenings.1 In fact, older adults may wake around three or four times a night.1
But while waking more often can be part of ageing, regularly having disrupted sleep and feeling exhausted the next day shouldn’t simply be dismissed as “getting older”. Healthy older adults still generally need around seven to nine hours of sleep.
Pregnancy can change almost every part of your daily routine, and sleep is no exception. As your body adapts and your baby grows, you may feel more tired, sleep less deeply and wake more often during the night.1 Getting enough good-quality sleep is important for both you and your developing baby, so understanding what to expect can make these changes a little easier to manage.
First trimester: tired, but not always sleeping well - During the first trimester, rising progesterone levels can leave you feeling unusually sleepy and low on energy.
When we think about healthy aging, nutritious food and regular exercise usually come to mind. But there’s another everyday habit that deserves a place on that list: sleep. Research increasingly suggests that sleep is connected not only with how rested we feel, but also with brain health, metabolism, immune function and how our bodies age over time.
Sleep may influence how your body ages - Your chronological age tells you how many birthdays you’ve had, but your biological age reflects how your body is functioning at a cellular and organ level.
Ever been kept awake by the sound of heavy breathing or snoring next to you? You’re not alone, and there’s actually a simple explanation behind it.
It’s All About Airflow - Whether you’re awake or asleep, the sound of breathing comes down to air vibrating as it moves through your breathing tube. Think of it a bit like a musical instrument. The narrower the passage and the faster the air moves through it, the louder the sound becomes.
There is a lot of advice out there about nursery colours and nappy bags, but one of the most useful things you can do before your baby arrives is prepare your sleep expectations. Newborns simply do not know the difference between day and night yet, and that means your own sleep is about to change dramatically. The good news is that a little planning now can make those early weeks far more manageable.
Expect Your Sleep to Change - Babies take about three months to develop a proper day and night sleep cycle.
If your alarm goes off while the rest of the street is still dark, you already know that early starts come with a unique set of challenges. Waking at 4am or 5am isn’t just about losing a few hours of shut-eye. It can throw your whole body clock out of whack, leaving you groggy on the job and wired when you finally get a chance to wind down. The good news is that with a few deliberate habits, you can protect your sleep and feel more like yourself, even on the earliest of mornings.
Why Early Starts Are Hard on Your Body - Your body runs on a circadian rhythm…
Ask any tradie what recovery looks like, and you’ll hear about stretching, hydration, maybe a sports massage if they’re feeling fancy. Sleep rarely makes the list, yet it’s the one recovery tool your body simply cannot function without. After a long day on the tools, sleep is the only natural way your body and brain get to properly recharge.
Why Sleep Matters More Than You Think - When you’re not getting quality sleep, the effects go far beyond feeling groggy the next morning…
