What is a sleep disorder and the connection to ventilation
It's one o'clock in the morning, an old man is staring blankly at the ceiling and hasn't closed his eyes yet. Not so far away, a medical student is struggling to hammer literature on the physiology of sleep into his head. His feet are in ice-cold water, but he still has to fight against falling asleep. In another household, a grumpy wife sleeps on the sofa because she can no longer stand her husband's snoring. They all have one thing in common: disturbed sleep.
What is a sleep disorder and its connection to ventilation?
Many of you may be wondering what constitutes a sleep disorder. Put simply, a sleep disorder is an illness that disrupts the normal sleep rhythm. There is a wide range of different sleep disorders. While some of them are well tolerated, others interfere with the body's normal functions.
maybe you need a CPAP machine? or artificial ventilation to sleep
What types of sleep disorders are there?
The
Insomnia
is a common sleep disorder. Those affected usually complain of difficulty falling asleep. Some are able to fall asleep but have difficulty staying asleep. In other words: you can't get a restful sleep. Although this is primarily a common problem for older people, it can occur in any age group. This type of sleep disorder causes several problems, ranging from memory impairment to limited coordination and difficulty concentrating.
The opposite of insomnia is hypersomnia . People affected by this sleep disorder usually have difficulty staying awake, especially during the day. You experience excessive sleepiness when performing routine activities. Some triggering factors for hypersomnia are: sleep apnea, lack of sleep, drug and medication abuse, obesity and head injuries, although other factors can also be considered.
Sleep apnea
is another common sleep disorder. With this disease, those affected usually have breathing problems or pauses in breathing (periods of time in which they do not breathe) while they are sleeping. This disease can go undetected in some sufferers. It is primarily those who sleep with them who notice the regular pauses in breathing. Excessive snoring can also be a manifestation of sleep apnea. The typical victim of sleep apnea is male, overweight, and over forty years old. However, people who do not fit this description may also be affected. These include people with large necks, enlarged tonsils and tongues, small jawbones, reflux esophagitis, a family history of sleep apnea, and sinus disorders.
Another sleep disorder is this
Narcolepsy
. The central nervous system of those affected is unable to control sleep rhythms. One moment you're talking to someone like that and the next he or she is in a deep sleep. It happens that these uncontrollable sleep episodes can occur at any time of the day and regardless of the activity being performed. The age at which this condition first appears is usually between 15 and 25 years, but it can develop at any age. If you ask most doctors what the cause is, you will probably often hear the answer: “Idiopathic!” listen (Don’t worry, because “idiopathic is just a fancy word for “unknown”). An evaluation for narcolepsy may be appropriate if you notice excessive sleepiness during the day, cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone and weakness), hallucinations, or sleep paralysis (temporary loss of muscle function while sleeping).
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
Restless leg syndrome is another sleep disorder. It is estimated that 10% of all Americans suffer from this syndrome. It is also called Willis-Ekbom syndrome. The patient usually has an irresistible desire to move his legs. This can be accompanied by an unpleasant feeling, but it doesn't have to be. This craving is then temporarily relieved by exercise or applying pressure to the limbs. Although rare, these movements can also affect the upper limbs and torso. The exact cause of this is – you guessed it – idiopathic. However, some circumstances have already been strongly linked to this disease. These include ADHD, varicose veins, kidney failure, pregnancy, iron deficiency, etc. There is a close connection between RLS and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD), a disease that results in periodic movements of the extremities. This condition is characterized by sleep disruption resulting from periodic and involuntary twitching or twitching of the legs during sleep.
Sleep disorders are far more common than you might think and have always been the focus of neurophysiologists. New findings can be expected from time to time. In the meantime, we recommend you eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep and be happy.