Sleep disorders: what are they?

By Cristiano Antonino On Apr 11, 2023

When we talk about sleep disorders, we do not mean mild insomnia or a restless night. Those who suffer from sleep disorders know how much they affect their quality of life

They are usually preceded by periods of extreme stress.

More than 70% of adults suffer from it, and it is a disorder that also affects the very young (such as high school students).

But what are so-called sleep disorders caused by, and when is it appropriate to speak of real disorders and not a passing phenomenon?

Sleep disorders can be the alarm bell of more serious pathologies, especially if they last for a long time.

Assuming that external influences unfortunately play a major role (hectic schedules at work, anxiety, general worries), it is good to distinguish the various types of sleep disorders in order to get to know them better.

Within the framework of sleep disorders, we distinguish between different forms of pathology:

insomnia
sleep apnoea
parasomnias
restless leg syndrome
narcolepsy
allergies and respiratory problems
frequent urination
chronic pain
stress and anxiety

What are the main symptoms of sleep disorders?

Before looking specifically at all the various categories of sleep disorders, it is good to specify what the main symptoms of sufferers are:

daytime tiredness
anxiety
irritability
reduced performance at school and at work
depression
weight gain
lack of concentration
unusual movements during sleep
difficulty falling asleep

Let’s take a closer look at these various categories of sleep disorders, and how they can be remedied.

Insomnia: what is it and what causes it?

Insomnia refers to the partial or complete inability to fall asleep or to sleep for a considerable number of hours.

It is usually circumscribed to a transient phenomenon caused by external agents (such as jet leg, anxiety, stress or hormonal and digestive problems).

However, prolonged insomnia can lead to problems that can affect our lifestyle. An example?

Depression, difficulty concentrating at work, severe irritability, sudden weight gain, decline in school performance and more.

Both men and women suffer from insomnia, but the latter seem to be the most affected, as well as the elderly in general.

There are three types of insomnia

chronic insomnia
intermittent insomnia
transient insomnia

Chronic insomnia is defined as insomnia that lasts for at least one month, while intermittent insomnia is insomnia that occurs periodically.

Transient insomnia, on the other hand, affects the majority of the population and is likely to last only a few nights at a time.

How to treat insomnia

After having had thorough tests to check one’s state of health, it is always advisable to start by changing one’s habits and lifestyle to cure insomnia.

It can help to start eating healthy, light foods, especially before going to bed, as well as consuming foods rich in vitamin B1 and vitamin B6, and magnesium-rich foods such as nuts and legumes.

Alcohol, coffee, excessive chocolate consumption and excessive intake of simple carbohydrates do not help.

To help promote sleep, in addition to medication, chamomile, lemon balm, passion flower, linden, valerian and melatonin can be consumed.

For debilitating insomnia, anti-anxiety drugs such as lorazepam, zaleplon and others can be taken on the advice of your doctor.

Sleep apnoea

Officially listed as a sleep disorder, the problem of sleep apnoea affects a large part of the adult population.

It consists of the difficulty in breathing that occurs during sleep, resulting in the intake of little oxygen while sleeping. Here are the various types of apnoea:

Obstructive sleep apnoea

Obstructive sleep apnoea occurs when airflow is interrupted because the airway space is obstructed or too narrow, while central sleep apnoea identifies a problem in the connection between the brain and the muscles that control breathing.

How to treat sleep apnoea

Again, the first piece of advice is to radically change your lifestyle.

Being fit is essential (weight gain or obesity unfortunately play a role in sleep apnoea), as is eating healthy, light food before bedtime.

Smoking, sedatives, alcohol, and fizzy drinks are also not recommended.

It is possible to try natural remedies, such as relaxing herbal teas or essential oils, but relief is usually found in pharmacological treatments given by theophylline and caffeine citrate.

In extreme cases, apneas can be corrected by surgery such as septoplasty, turbinate reduction, tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.

Parasonnias

Parasonnias are defined as those sleep disorders characterised by abnormal movements, a prime example of which is sleepwalking.

However, parasomnias also include:

talking in sleep
groaning in sleep
nightmares
wetting the bed
gnashing of teeth

How to treat parasomnias

Unfortunately, to date there is no specific cure to treat episodes of parasomnia, other than to always go to bed at the same time (and thus establish a good sleep routine) and to better prepare the environment that will welcome us for sleep.

A cool room with clean linen and soft lighting is certainly a good start, as is going to the bathroom before bedtime to empty your bladder and finding ways to reduce stress with meditation, yoga or relaxing music.

It is also advisable to limit caffeine intake as much as possible.

Restless Legs Syndrome

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Restless Legs Syndrome mainly affects women, and is caused (as the name suggests) by the need to constantly move one’s legs when lying in bed.

It can be accompanied by a tingling sensation, and can even cause pain during the night.

Restless legs syndrome can be associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, hyperactivity disorder or Parkinson’s disease, however, its cause is not always known by doctors.

How to treat restless legs syndrome

RLS (restless legs syndrome) has no real therapy.

Stretching exercises and antidepressant medication may help, as well as taking supplements if one has an iron deficiency in the blood.

Opioid medications, such as codeine and oxycodone, are also used for restless legs syndrome.

Of course, any therapy must be prescribed by one’s doctor, who may also opt for anti-epileptic drugs or benzodiazepines.

Sleep disorders, narcolepsy

Narcolepsy refers to ‘sleep attacks’ that occur when one is awake.

It can therefore occur while we are driving our car, preceded by an incredible sense of tiredness.

The result, unfortunately, is to fall asleep without warning and suddenly.

Narcolepsy can also cause sleep paralysis, and is usually associated with neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis.

How to treat narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is treated with drug therapy, although there are no specific drugs for this sleep disorder.

Antidepressants can also play a key role in keeping these episodes under control.

Other causes of sleep disorders

We have outlined the main causes of sleep disorders so far, but there are many subcategories to explore.

Allergies and respiratory problems can also play a role, or those who suffer from nocturia – frequent urination.

Unfortunately, those suffering from chronic pain such as fibromyalgia, persistent headaches, lower back pain, inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis can also experience these complaints.