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Sleep disturbances mean sleep disorders, a medical condition, in which once the sleep is interrupted, the person can’t easily fall asleep or stay asleep for long. A person going through sleep disturbance wakes up early and suffers from an increased risk of fatigue and drowsiness throughout the day, apart from physical and mental illness. Sleep disturbances can affect a person’s everyday performance, health, interpersonal relationships, and safety.
There are more than 80 types of sleep disturbances, however, according to the neurologist in Millers road, the most common sleep disturbances that can be seen in a person are Insomnias, Snoring associated with Sleep Apnea, DIMS (Disorders of Initiating and Maintaining Sleep), DOES (Disorders of Excessive Somnolence), disorders of sleep-wake schedule, restless legs syndrome (a tingling sensation in the legs), dysfunctions associated with sleep, sleep stages, or partial arousals (parasomnias).
Why Does Sleep Disturbance Occur?
Various factors interrupt our sleep and lead to sleep disruption or sleep deficit. Even though the reason for disturbed sleep differs, the result disrupts our body's natural cycle. A few causes of sleep disturbance are:
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Medical conditions like asthma, heart and lung disease, nerve disorders, or ulcers.
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Environmental factors such as alcohol and caffeine intake.
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Narcolepsy or daytime drowsiness around relaxing surrounding.
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Mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, etc.
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Working at night shift it disrupts the biological clock or sleep schedule.
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Medications that interfere with your sleep cycle.
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Age - Older age (60 and above) face sleep disorders that might be caused by aging.
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Dementia sleep disturbance is associated with fragmented sleep at night.
During pregnancy, hormonal changes and accompanying symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and excessive urination, can cause sleep disturbance. All of this interferes with the body's normal sleep and wake cycles.
Look for these Symptoms to Understand if You’re Suffering from Sleep Disturbances:
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Falling asleep while driving.
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Difficulty in paying attention at work.
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Falling asleep when physically inactive- reading or watching television.
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Difficulty in remembering things.
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Giving slow responses.
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The difficulty of emotional management.
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Falling sleepy even after 7 hours of sleep at night.
Diagnosis of Disturbed Sleep:
Upon suspecting sleep disturbance, you need to consult a Somnologist/Sleep Specialist. They will perform a physical exam to identify the reason behind disturbed sleep. Your doctor will also run a background check on your illnesses and order tests to rule out other health conditions.
You’ll be asked simple questions like “Do you wake up at midnight?”, “How many hours of sleep do you have at night?”, “Do you fall asleep or feel sleepy during the daytime?”, or “How much time does it take for you to fall asleep at night?” to diagnose sleep disturbance.
If your doctor at neuro hospital in millers road diagnoses a sleep disorder, you might be referred to a sleep specialist to review your symptoms further. A polysomnogram (PSG) test is conducted that can electronically transmit and record your minute physical responses during sleep. A home Sleep Apnea Test is suggested for selected patients. Your sleep specialist may also use the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) sleep disturbance scale to diagnose your sleep disorder.
Sleep Disturbances - ICD-10 Codes:
Sleep disturbances are classified as "Disorders of sleep-wake schedule" in the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10). Some of the codes sleep specialists use to diagnose various types of sleep disturbances are as follows:
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Insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep): F51.01
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Hypersomnia (excessive daytime sleepiness): G47.10
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Narcolepsy: G47.41
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Obstructive sleep apnea: G47.33
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Central sleep apnea: G47.31
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Sleep-related movement disorders: G47.6
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Restless legs syndrome: G25.81
What is the Treatment for Sleep Disorders?
Sleep disturbances can be treated in various ways, as suggested by sleep specialists.
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Medications
Doctors often recommend sleep aids like Zaleplon, Melatonin, Eszopiclone, or Zolpidem for Insomnia-related sleep disorders. Similarly, Narcolepsy can be treated with stimulants or medications like Armodafinil or Modafinil. Restless legs syndrome is treated with Gabapentin, Enacarbil, or Pregabalin.
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Counselling
Doctors often recommend cognitive behaviour therapies to recognise, change and challenge stress-inducing reflections that cause sleep disturbances.
How to get a Good Night’s Sleep?
You should follow the following steps to sleep well at night:
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Create a comfortable sleep environment by ensuring that your bedroom is cool, dark, quiet, and has a comfortable mattress. Use background sounds like white noise, earplugs, sleep masks, or blackout curtains to prevent outside disturbances.
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Cleanse your mind by listing down important tasks for the next day in the evening.
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Create a regular enjoyable bedtime by bathing, listening to music, and reading. You can also opt for relaxing exercises, biofeedback, meditation, or hypnosis. Wake up at the exact time every morning, irrespective of vacations and days off.
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Avoid watching television, working, and using computers before bedtime.
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Avoid taking naps for more than 30 mins after 3 pm.
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Avoid stimulants such as tea, coffee, cola, cocoa, chocolate, and heavy meals for at least four hours before bedtime. Carbohydrate snacks like yogurt, milk, crackers, etc., help you fall asleep faster.
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Exercise regularly, excluding the 4 hours before bedtime to improve your sleep cycle.
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Avoid tobacco and alcohol for at least 4 hours before your bedtime.
Even though sleep disorders are not deadly, they can affect your lifestyle and affect your general health. If you are struggling with sleep, you can meet a Consultant - Neurology at Manipal Hospital Millers Road and seek immediate treatment.
Some Frequently asked questions with respective answers regarding the disorder and how it can be managed are provided below:
- What is the most common sleep disorder in the world?
Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder, which is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep.
- What causes sleeping disorders?
Stress, working the night shift, and certain medical and environmental conditions are a few major reasons behind sleep disturbances. Concerns about finances, work, school, illness, or the death of loved ones can also lead to sleep disorders.
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