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.
When the afternoon slump hits, a coffee or energy drink can feel like the quickest solution. Caffeine can certainly make you feel more alert, but it doesn’t replace sleep. So, when you’re tired, what actually works?
Why caffeine gives you a boost: Caffeine can improve attention, alertness and reaction time, particularly when you’re tired. A typical cup of brewed coffee contains around 80 to 100 mg of caffeine, although amounts vary between drinks.
Ever picked up your phone for a quick scroll before bed, only to realise an hour has disappeared? Between social media, late-night messages and endless streaming, technology has become a familiar part of our evenings. But while our devices keep us entertained and connected, they can also make it harder to unwind and get a good night’s sleep.
The good news? A few simple changes to your digital habits could make bedtime feel much more relaxing.
Sleep can change dramatically during menopause. You might suddenly struggle to fall asleep, wake several times throughout the night or find yourself exhausted despite spending enough time in bed.
While hormonal changes, hot flushes and night sweats can certainly interfere with sleep, it is important not to assume that poor sleep is simply something you have to accept during menopause. Different sleep problems require different treatments, so finding out what is actually keeping you awake is an important first step.
Ever climbed into bed feeling exhausted, only to find your mind suddenly buzzing with thoughts? Perhaps you’re replaying conversations, worrying about tomorrow or becoming increasingly aware of every little sound around you. When your mind refuses to switch off, even the quietest bedroom can feel surprisingly distracting.
This is where white noise apps might help. But can a gentle background sound really make falling asleep easier?
Have you ever woken up feeling refreshed, only to check your smartwatch and discover that your sleep score was surprisingly low? Suddenly, you start questioning whether you actually slept well.
Sleep trackers can be useful tools for understanding our sleep habits. However, for some people, constantly monitoring sleep data can create unnecessary worry and even make sleeping more difficult. This growing phenomenon is known as orthosomnia.
We’ve all been there. You pick up your phone for a quick scroll before bed, only to realise that half an hour has passed and you’re still wide awake. While screens are often blamed for disrupting sleep, is it really the blue light keeping us awake, or is it what we’re doing on our devices?
Interestingly, both can play a role.
If menopause has suddenly made a good night’s sleep harder to come by, you’re far from alone. Hormonal changes, hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms can all interfere with sleep, and insomnia is particularly common during this stage of life.
While there is no single solution for menopausal sleep problems, regular physical activity may help. Research suggests exercise can reduce insomnia symptoms and support better sleep, while providing plenty of other benefits for health and wellbeing.
If sleep suddenly feels harder during menopause, you are far from alone. Trouble falling asleep, waking repeatedly during the night and waking earlier than intended are all commonly reported during the menopause transition. Research suggests sleep problems affect around 39% to 47% of women during perimenopause and 35% to 60% after menopause.1
Hormonal changes are thought to play an important role, which raises an obvious question: can hormone replacement therapy (HRT) help you sleep better?
