What is a Sleep Disorder?
Sleep Cycle: The progression through an orderly succession of sleep states and stages.
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The National Institutes of Health define a sleep disorder as any difficulties related to sleeping, including:
- difficulty breathing during sleep
- difficulty falling or staying asleep
- falling asleep at inappropriate times
- excessive total sleep time
- abnormal behaviors associated with sleep
Physicians and sleep specialists typically categorize sleep disorders into four main categories specified by the International Classification of Sleep Disorders. These include:
- sleep related breathing problems
- excessive sleepiness
- abnormal dream behavior
- excessive movement during sleep
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Are there ways to prevent sleep disorders? |
The National Commission on Sleep Disorders, headed by Dr. William C. Dement (a leading authority on sleep at Stanford University and founder of the American Board of Sleep Medicine) found that the root cause of America’s sleep-deprivation problems and sleep disorders was the “complete absence of teaching about sleep at any level of the educational system.” Good starting points for building your defense against sleep disorders include:
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educating yourself about the sleep cycle , stages, and common disorders
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developing healthy sleep
hygiene
- talking with your doctor or a sleep specialist about your sleep concerns
Sleep Hygiene: Behavioral activities that either contribute to or detract from restorative sleep.
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How are sleep disorders diagnosed? |
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Sleep disorders are often diagnosed based on a number of factors including your
- Sleep history
- Medical history
- Overnight sleep study (to detect abnormal brain or respiratory events)
- description of symptoms
- age and gender
- psychological history
- family member or partner’s observation of disruptive sleep patterns
In order to determine if you have a sleep disorder, it is important to pay attention to your sleep habits and daily routine. Keeping a sleep diary may be helpful in discussing your daily patterns with your doctor or sleep specialist. For more information about sleep disorders go to the ICSD (International Classification of Sleep Disorders) website! |
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