Index Sleep disorders Causes of sleep disorders Lifestyle: shift work, alcohol and caffeine Mental health problem: stress and anxiety disorders Physical health problem: breathing problems and heart failure Effects of sleep disorders Physical: Immune system and weight Psychological: emotions, speech and memory Social: relationships and community activities Sleep disorder treatments Medications Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) Continuous positive blood pressure airway (CPAP) Exercises Works Cited Sleep Disorders Sleep is a necessary process that we must perform to sustain life. People spend a third of their lives sleeping. It is the state of physical and mental rest in which a person becomes unaware of the environment. And there is nothing that can replace sleep. Sleep disorders involve problems with the quality, timing and quantity of sleep that cause problems with how our bodies function during the day. To understand how serious sleep disorders can be, it is necessary to know: the causes, effects and treatments of sleep disorders. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay Causes of Sleep Disorders Nowadays, sleep has become an inconvenience for some people. With all the work and play they have to do during the day, sleep sometimes gets ignored, which can cause sleep disturbances. Sleep disorders can be divided into three broad areas, including lifestyle, mental health issues, and physical health issues. Lifestyle: Shift Work, Alcohol and Caffeine People's lifestyle or the way they live affects their sleep health. Shift work is work that occurs on a schedule other than the traditional 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily schedule. May involve evening or night shifts, morning shifts and rotating shifts. This causes an extreme change in sleeping habits. By nature, humans are active during the day and restful at night. Shift work reverses this natural order, and human bodies may not be capable of changing. According to the opponent process model, sleep and wakefulness result from the interaction between two central nervous system (CNS) processes: a homeostatic sleep system and a circadian alert system. Caffeine and alcohol are substances used that can cause lack of sleep. Caffeine in the coffee that people drink when they are sleepy during the day to keep them awake. But consuming anything containing caffeine should be avoided before going to bed because if taken in excessive quantities, it can cause an unpleasant period. When it's time to sleep it will prevent you from getting adequate rest. Drinking too much alcohol can cause sleep disturbances. Alcohol is very effective at suppressing melatonin, a key facilitator of sleep and regulator of the sleep-wake cycle. Research indicates that a moderate dose of alcohol up to an hour before bedtime can reduce melatonin production by nearly 20%. Alcohol has a direct effect on circadian rhythms that regulate almost every process in the body, from metabolism and immunity to energy, sleep and sex drive. Mental Health Problem: Stress and Anxiety Disorders Sleep disorders can cause mental health problems. Stress is a major cause of sleep disorders such as insomnia. An unexpected event can lead to chronic insomnia. People with chronic insomnia have difficulty falling and staying asleep. In humans, stress can cause the autonomic nervous system (ANS) to release hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones increase the heart rate to makecirculate blood to vital organs and muscles more efficiently, preparing the body to act immediately if necessary. According to a survey by the National Sleep Foundation, 43 percent of people ages 13 to 64 reported staying awake at night due to stress at least once in the past month. Many anxiety disorders are associated with difficulty sleeping. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is often associated with poor sleep. Panic attacks during sleep may suggest a panic disorder. Poor sleep resulting from nightmares may be associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Physical health problems: respiratory problems and heart failure. Similar to caffeine, breathing problems such as snoring can make it more difficult to fall asleep, as can the use of steroids or other respiratory medications. which also have a stimulating effect. Heart failure is a condition characterized by a gradual decline in the heart's ability to pump or circulate blood adequately. Heart failure patients may wake up during the night short of breath because excess body fluid builds up around the lungs when they lie down. Effects of Sleep Disorders Not getting enough sleep can have a poisonous effect on your entire life. It doesn't matter if sleep is lost due to lifestyle, a mental health issue, or a physical health issue. Poor rest compromises our ability to think, manage stress, moderate emotions, maintain adequate health and, in some cases, can even cause death. If sleep disorders go unrecognized or untreated, a person may have underlying physical, psychological, and social problems. Physical: Immune System and Weight The dangers of sleep disorders can affect a person's physical well-being in several ways. The immune system and adequate rest are closely related. Levels of specialized immune cells and important proteins called cytokines in the blood are altered when the body doesn't get enough rest. This creates a higher than normal chance of infections. One theory states that the immune system developed drowsiness-inducing factors because inactivity and sleep provided an advantage. People who sleep well when faced with an infection are better able to fight off the infection than people who sleep less. A sleep-deprived person may catch colds more frequently than a well-rested person. Another effect of sleep loss is the risk of obesity. A new study presented at the American Diabetes Society annual meeting suggests that healthy young people who regularly sleep less than 6.5 hours a night have greater insulin resistance than people who sleep between 7.5 and 8.5 hours. Insulin resistance is the condition that often leads to type 2 diabetes. During sleep, the body releases specific hormones and chemicals that control appetite and manage weight gain. Researchers found that people who sleep 2-4 hours a night are 73% more likely to be obese than those who sleep 7-9 hours. Those who sleep 5 or more hours a night are 50% more likely to be obese. And those who work 10 or more hours are 11% less likely to be obese. If weight gain is not managed properly, it could also cause other health problems in the future. Psychological: Emotions, Speech and Memory Without sufficient rest, our psychological state will begin to deteriorate. People become irritable and short-tempered, both with themselves and with others. It is even possible to lose control of emotions, which can lead to violence. This canbe harmful to relationships with family, friends and partners. Stress and anxiety levels increase due to drowsiness. This can ultimately lead to full-blown anxiety disorders and depression. Studies show that poor-quality sleep can damage or destroy brain cells. When you don't sleep enough, the part of the brain that controls language, memory, planning and sense of time is severely affected, to the point of practically shutting down. In fact, 17 hours of prolonged wakefulness lead to a decline in performance equivalent to a blood alcohol level of 0.05%. The brain's ability to solve problems is impaired when a person is sleep deprived. Normal decision-making skills are impaired and the brain falls into rigid thinking patterns that make it difficult for us to produce new ideas to solve problems. Social: Community relationships and activities Sleep disorders can also intrude on a person's social life. Shift workers face problems trying to maintain family relationships and social community bonds. Night shift workers need sleep during the day and often miss family activities, entertainment and other social interactions. Childcare, housework, shopping and leaving your partner alone at night can lead to marital tension and family dysfunction. If family members work on this schedule, it is very important to plan special times to share with their friends and family. Sleep Disorder Treatments When something goes wrong in your body or mind, you need to see your doctor. The easiest way to treat sleep disorders is to get enough sleep and adopt good sleep habits. But when these are not enough, other therapeutic options can be considered. The main treatments that people often use are medications, cognitive behavioral therapy, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and exercise. Medications Some medications such as Zolpiclem, Zaleplon and Eszopiclone work as facilitators of GABA receptors in the body's central nervous system to inhibit brain activity. Zolpiclrm is available in a variety of formulations useful in many types of insomnia. Zaleplon has a rapid onset of action and a shorter duration of action, making it useful in midnight awakening. Many psychotropic drugs are used to promote sleep in people with insomnia. You should be careful about the risk of becoming "too seated" using others when taking some of these medications. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most widely used therapy for sleep disorders. It can be conducted individually, in a group with similar sleep problems or even online. Because the causes and symptoms of sleep disorders vary greatly, CBT should always be tailored to your specific problems. CBT addresses negative thoughts and behavior patterns that contribute to insomnia or other sleep problems. As the name suggests, cognitive behavioral therapy involves two main components: cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy. Cognitive therapy teaches you to recognize and change negative beliefs and thoughts that contribute to sleep problems. Behavioral therapy teaches you how to avoid behaviors that keep you up at night and replace them with better sleep habits. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) One of the treatments of choice for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) which addresses the nasal interface, oronasal mask or nasal pillows. Although CPAP therapy is known for effectiveness and long-term adherence, the..>