The human body needs adequate sleep to function properly. Not only does it help to unwind, rewind, and relax, but it also reduces the risk of health issues. An adult needs an average of 7 hours of sleep a day to maintain a regular sleep-wake cycle.
A disturbance in normal sleep patterns can cause several sleep disorders. These disorders can range from mild to chronic, depending upon various other factors like routine, medication, and lifestyle. Individuals of all age groups can suffer from sleep disorders like insomnia, sleep apnea, etc. Proper interventions are needed in due time to counter such conditions and prevent them from turning chronic.
How Common Are Sleep Disorders?
Sleep disorders are more common than we realize. According to numerous studies, about 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. Additionally, 1 in 3 adults report not getting enough sleep.
Why Should We Study Sleep Disorders?
Good sleep is imperative for maintaining good health.
An individual not getting enough quality sleep is at risk for health issues like obesity, lethargy, and mental health issues like anxiety and depression. An in-depth study of sleep disorders can help create health policies prioritizing quality sleep.
As a public health professional, you need advanced knowledge and research skills to craft awareness campaigns highlighting the importance of healthy sleeping habits. If you’re a public health professional looking to grow your skillset and advance your career, consider enrolling in an online MPH in health policy program.
What Are The Most Common Sleep Disorders?
Sleep disorders can range from occasional occurrences to chronic conditions. Here are a few sleep disorders that are studied frequently among the American population.
- Insomnia
Insomnia is not just an impaired sleep cycle. It is usually accompanied by waking up too early and being unable to go back to sleep. If these symptoms persist for 1 to 3 months, seeking help for insomnia might be helpful.
Suffering from insomnia can harm your lifestyle. It can cause mood swings, impaired judgment, and restlessness. It can drain your energy, rendering you incapable of carrying out basic everyday tasks.
- Prevalence
Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder affecting 1 in 4 adults in the US. Half of the US population experience insomnia symptoms, of which around 10% turn into chronic insomnia.
Insomnia affects more women than men. Research indicates that women are 40% more likely to develop insomnia than men.
Risk Factors
Risk factors of insomnia range from environmental to genetic. Below are listed the most common risk factors for insomnia.
- Working long hours or working in shifts.
- Stressful conditions
- Mental health disorders like anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc.
- Excessive use of medications like antidepressants, painkillers, or antihistamines.
- Genetic factors also account for 35% of total insomnia cases.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that disrupts your breathing. It happens when your throat muscles contract and relax on their own during sleep. As a result, breathing can be interrupted for around 10 seconds before either resuming or waking you up forcefully.
Sleep apnea is characterized by snoring. Snoring is a seemingly harmless condition that can worsen if not treated in the initial stages. If you wake up suddenly at night, gasping for breath, or your family complains of your snoring habit, you need to seek medical help for sleep apnea.
- Prevalence
Sleep apnea affects more men than women. In the US, 25-30% of men suffer from sleep apnea, as opposed to 9-17% of women. It increases with an increase in age. People over 50 are at a greater risk of developing sleep apnea.
Risk Factors
- Obesity
- Advanced age
- Supine Sleeping position
- Narrow Airway
- Smoking
Restless Leg Syndrome
Restless Leg Syndrome is characterized by one or both legs twitching throughout the night. It is also known as Willis-Ekbom Disease.
The symptoms of RLS can include itching, throbbing, or pulling sensations. Such sensations cause an uncontrollable urge to move your legs to uncomfortable positions. Such positions usually relieve the sensations temporarily.
- Prevalence
5 to 15% of the adults in the US suffer from restless leg syndrome (RLS). It can develop at any age. More women than men suffer from restless leg syndrome.
- Risk Factors
Risk factors for RLS are mostly associated with neurological conditions. A few risk factors for this sleep disorder are listed as follows.
- Neurological disorders like Parkinson’s Disease and peripheral neuropathy.
- Genetic factors
- Iron and Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Anesthesia medication such as spinal blocks
- Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a neurological sleep disorder that renders you incapable of sleeping for extended periods. This can cause extreme drowsiness during the day. When you have narcolepsy, you immediately fall asleep at odd times to compensate for your lack of sleep. In contrast, insomniacs are unable to fall asleep even during extreme drowsiness.
Narcolepsy can cause sudden loss of muscle tone, where you feel sudden weakness in muscles and slurred speech patterns. This condition is called cataplexy.
Narcolepsy is incurable. It can, however, be controlled through medication and lifestyle changes.
- Prevalence
Narcolepsy is comparatively rare, as only 1 in 2000 people suffer from it. In the US, approximately 200,000 people suffer from narcolepsy. The prevalence of this disease is challenging to determine as it can be confused with other health conditions like insomnia, ADHD, anxiety, etc.
- Risk Factors
Since narcolepsy is a neurological disorder, it can get triggered by certain infections or psychological stress. Other risk factors include:
- Genetic Factors
- Autoimmune disorders
- Brain Injury.
Public Health Interventions for Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders can, at the very least, affect the productivity of individuals. They are also the onset of certain chronic conditions like heart diseases and psychological disorders. Due to this, certain interventions by public health professionals are necessary.
Public health policies are created to reduce the prevalence of sleep disorders. Public health policies regarding sleep disorders include:
- Raising awareness of certain sleep disorders
- Educate people regarding symptoms
- Encourage them to seek medical help in time
Conclusion
Sleep is a necessity, not a luxury. By educating yourself and the people around you, you can help them recognize their symptoms and consult a doctor in time. Public health interventions can reduce the risk and prevalence of sleep disorders and, by extension, reduce the risk of developing other chronic health conditions.
