Sleep Disorders and Treatment options
First step towards Better Sleep Adults:
If you are struggling with sleep which impact your health and day to day routine. Yet many people don’t realize the signs and untreated sleep issues can affect mood, memory to heart and immunity.
There are several different types of sleep-wake disorders, of which insomnia is the most common. Other sleep-wake disorders include obstructive sleep apnea, parasomnias, narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome. Sleep difficulties are linked to both physical and emotional problems.
Symptoms:
Loud Snoring
Waking up with dry /sore throat
Feeling tired all the day
Waking up with headaches
Drowsy /Sleepiness while driving
Choking and gasping sensation at night
Type 2 diabetes with other health issues and weight gain.
Types of Sleep Apnea:
1.Obstructive - Throat muscles relax
2.Central – Brain doesn’t send signals to the muscles that control breathing
3.Complex – Who has both obstructive and Central.
When you don’t get enough sleep -what will happen to your body?
High BP
Heart stroke -sudden death
Type 2 -Diabetes
Overweight
Depression
Decreased sex drive
Is it Dangerous to Leave Untreated?
If is left untreated, will continue to experience disrupted sleep and fatigue that will have negative impacts on your health. With lack of restful sleep, it is likely you may have difficulty with concentration and reaction timing. You may not realize that you are at a higher risk to develop other health problems as mentioned above and experience accidents at work or behind the wheel of your car.
INSOMNIA QUIZ:
Time taken to fall sleep 30 mins or more
Walking during nights and difficult falling back sleep
Feeling sad and Depression
Stop breathing while in sleep
Loud snoring
Feeling sleep during day time and driving
Jerk of legs and arms
Treatment Options:
PAP THERAPY – CPAP, BIPAP AND ASV
CPAP – Continuous Positive Airway Pressure is standard treatment for OSA in which machine delivers a steady air through nose and back into throat. Constantly but gentle pressure keeps your upper airway open, allowing breathing during sleep without interruption.
BiPAP – builds higher pressure when you inhale and decreases to lower when you exhale. Supplies constant pressure to upper airway as you breathe in and out.
ASV - Machine monitors your breathing constantly throughput the night. Treats both central and complex sleep apnea evolving conventional positive pressure therapy.
ORAL APPLIANCE THERAPY – OA is non-mask therapy which is alternative treatment for OSA and snoring. Custom made device with help of dentist who is trained in sleep medicine. Works by moving and holding the lower jaw forward. The main purpose of the OA is to keep the airway open during sleep, thereby it prevents from collapsing and blocking the normal flow of air during breathing.
INSPIRE THERAPY -OSA treatment that works inside your body to treat the root cause of sleep apnea with the click of a button. It is a small device that is implanted in the body.
While sleeping, inspire device opens your airway, allowing you to breathe normally and sleep peacefully.
RESPICARDIA THERAPY -Treats moderate to severe Central Sleep Apnea (CSA). implantable system that stimulates the phrenic nerve to send signals to the diaphragm. Stimulate breathing in the same way that the brain signals breathing. It is placed during a minimally procedure by a cardiologist. The System works to continuously and automatically monitor and stabilize the breathing pattern, restoring sleep.
PROCEDURE:
Initial step: Consult - You need to see a sleep medicine expert for a consult to discuss all sleep related issues. If it is mild – might treat with medication.
Second step: In lab study – PSG overnight study which measures how well a person sleep and monitored by a sleep technician.
Scalp electrodes: Small sensors are placed on your scalp to measure brain activity. This helps identify when you fall asleep.
Facial electrodes: Sensors near your eyes and chin track eye movements and muscle activity. These readings help determine sleep stages and detect issues like teeth grinding or muscle‑related disorders.
Breathing belts: Two soft elastic belts around your chest and abdomen measure your breathing.
Nasal cannula & heart monitor: A nasal cannula tracks airflow, while a small monitor records breathing patterns and heart activity.
Leg sensors: Electrodes on each leg measure muscle activity and detect limb movements.
Oxygen monitor: A sensor on your finger continuously measures your oxygen.
EKG leads: Two to three small electrodes track your heart rate.
Snore microphone: A tiny mic placed on your throat detects snoring.
CPAP/BiPAP (if needed): If sleep apnea is suspected, CPAP or BiPAP therapy during the study may be introduced by a technician.
Third Step: Follow Up – To discuss the result of in lab study and further treatment options.
Sleep Problems in Children: Childhood insomnia occurs when a child has difficulty falling and staying asleep at least three days a week. Refusal to go to bed or difficulty falling asleep without the help of a parent or object, such as a favorite toy or blanket, are common types of childhood insomnia.
The Hidden Health Crisis: How Irregular Sleep Patterns Elevate Long-Term Disease Risk
Thousands of children and teenagers face a mounting sleeplessness crisis, with the number of admissions to hospital of young people with sleep disorders rising sharply in six years, the Guardian can reveal.
Experts have described the problem as a hidden public health disaster, putting the surge down to a combination of exploding obesity levels, excessive use of social media before bedtime and a mental health crisis engulfing young people.
What the Research Tells Us
Studies have shown that poor sleep quality and/or quantity in children are associated with a host of problems, including academic, behavioral, developmental and social difficulties, weight abnormalities, and other health problems.
Why Sleep Consistency Is Essential
Several studies have shown that a bedtime routine is associated with positive child mood and enhanced emotional–behavioral regulation. In a cross-sectional study of infant and toddler sleep patterns in the Middle East, children who had a consistent bedtime routine had more positive maternal-rated daily mood
Impacts on Health
Irregular sleep patterns have been linked to:
Metabolic issues: These studies indicate that short sleep duration among adolescents and children is related to high-risk behavioral factors, type 2 diabetes, high high-density-lipoprotein concentrations, increased abdominal adiposity, decreased insulin sensitivity, high blood pressure, and developing overweight and obesity
Neurological decline: Lack of sleep negatively affects memory, making it harder for children to retain and process new information. It can also cause irritability, mood swings, and emotional instability. Studies show that even one night of insufficient sleep can impact memory, behavior, and mood.
Organ stress: Greater vulnerability to kidney failure and chronic conditions which damage internal organs.
These findings underscore why doctors and sleep specialists now say that sleep regularity should be a public health priority.
Tips from the Sleep Experts
To help improve sleep consistency, here’s a list to improve sleep cycle :
Adopt a Fixed Sleep Schedule
Keeping a regular sleep schedule—even on weekends
Avoid “Catch-Up Sleep”
The attempt to compensate for an existing sleep deficit by sleeping longer or more intensively in the following nights
Keep Your Sleep Environment Free of Disruptors
Limit the children from screen time and minimize exposure to blue light in dark environment .
Cultivate a Bedtime Routine
A bedtime routine is when your child does similar activities in roughly the same order each night before they go to sleep. This can help your child fall asleep more easily at bedtime because they know what's coming, which makes them feel settled and safe.
Monitor with Wearables (If Available)
Fitness trackers like watches and sleep-monitoring applications can highlight irregular sleep trends and help you adjust.
Examples of sleep trackers
“Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone.”
