Common Sleep Disorders

America is a nation that is known to struggle with sleep. Several sleep disorders are prevalent in the United States. These disorders could be affecting you or someone you know. Read on to learn more about some of the more common sleep disorders in the United States and the symptoms of each one.

Insomnia

Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder. Insomnia results in poor quality of sleep because of difficulty going to sleep, repeatedly waking during sleep, or waking early in the morning. Insomnia can be something that people suffer from occasionally, but for some, it can be a chronic disorder that occurs consistently. Some symptoms of insomnia include excessive daytime sleepiness, lack of energy, depression, difficulty concentrating, and decreased performance at work.

Insomnia can be a dangerous sleep disorder because the lack of sleep can lead to workplace accidents or automobile accidents. Chronic insomnia affects about 10% of Americans.

Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless Leg Syndrome is another widespread sleep disorder in America. Restless leg syndrome is the persistent urge to move your legs while resting. Professionals consider this a sleep disorder because people with restless leg syndrome can suffer from poor sleep because of the need to move their legs. With restless leg syndrome many people feel aching, itching, burning, throbbing, or other sensations in their legs. People experience relief with the movement or massage of their legs, but this can significantly affect people’s ability to fall asleep and get quality sleep.

Restless leg syndrome can lead to many of the same symptoms as insomnia including trouble concentrating, excessive daytime sleepiness/fatigue, depression, and memory problems. If you or someone you know is suffering from restless leg syndrome, you should consult a doctor right away.

Sleep Apnea

Another prevalent sleep disorder is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs when a person’s breathing stops and starts during sleep because of a collapse in the upper airway. There are several signs that you or someone you know could have sleep apnea. Some of these signs include loud snoring, gasping for air during sleep, difficulty staying asleep, extreme daytime fatigue, trouble concentrating when awake, and daytime headaches.

As a sleep disorder, sleep apnea is serious. Identifying and treating this disorder is crucial because it can lead to other significant health problems. While someone is suffering from sleep apnea, they are not getting enough oxygen circulated throughout their body which can result in high blood pressure and heart problems. Those with sleep apnea also have a higher risk of developing diabetes. It is essential to consult a doctor for treatment options if you think you or someone you know is suffering from sleep apnea.

Insomnia, restless leg syndrome, and sleep apnea are three of the most common sleeping disorders that affect people in the United States. However, you do have options when it comes to treating sleep disorders such as these. If you think you have one of these sleep disorders, the first step would be to consult your primary physician about what symptoms you currently have. Your doctor will be able to help you determine the best options going forward for diagnosis and treatment of your sleep disorder.

Treating Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder and could be affecting you or someone that you know. If you think that it is, you should consult a doctor right away. A doctor will help you find the right treatment for your sleep apnea. One of the most common treatments for sleep apnea is a CPAP machine.

A CPAP machine uses pressurized air to keep a person’s airway open during sleep, preventing any blockage and allowing the person to breathe freely. However, using a CPAP machine for treating sleep apnea does require some maintenance. A CPAP machine needs to be cleaned regularly, or it can cause health problems. A dirty CPAP machine can cause airway irritation, a sore throat, skin irritation, respiratory infection, and more.

The best way to clean your CPAP machine is to use a CPAP cleaning device like VirtuCLEAN. VirtuCLEAN does all the work of cleaning your CPAP machine for you, and it gets rid of 99.9% of germs and bacteria. If you would like to learn more about the VirtuCLEAN CPAP cleaning device, you can click here.

Sleep disorders are serious because they are something that can significantly affect your health. If you think you or someone you know has any of these sleep disorders, you should consult a doctor to help you find a treatment option that gives you relief. Sleep is an essential part of our lives, so you want to be sure you are getting the quality sleep your body needs and deserves.