Stress. Anxiety. Noisy neighbors. Blanket partners. Since the list of things that can disturb a person’s sleep is rather a roll, it is not surprising that between 50 and 70 million Americans are affected by sleep-related problems, according to the Association American Sleep Apnea.
This list may include symptoms that you do not even know you are experiencing as a result of an undiagnosed sleep disorder, or a health condition that is causing a sleep disorder.
“Most people will notice that their sleep is interrupted when they feel excessive fatigue the next day, but it is often difficult to trace this excessive fatigue to symptoms such as congestion, digestive problems, or pain,” said Dr. Janice Johnston. , co-founder and head. medical officer of the U.S. Redirect Health Health Care Plan. “Instead, people may mistakenly attribute these feelings to caffeine deficiency, nighttime or daytime stress.”
If you experience any or all of the following symptoms after hitting the sheets, it may be time to consult with your doctor.
Air panting
Shortness of breath is most commonly a sign of sleep apnea, a sleep disorder where breathing stops and begins repeatedly.
“During sleep, the muscles relax and the throat tightens or closes,” said Dr. Zeeshan Khan, director of the Institute of Sleep Medicine at the Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, New Jersey.
Sleep apnea is also associated with snoring, suffocation while sleeping, and waking up with a dry mouth and headache. “A sleep specialist may ask for a sleep study to determine if you have sleep apnea, which is usually treated with a device called CPAP: continuous air at a certain pressure that opens the airways,” Khan said.
Postnasal drip is another possible culprit. “When too much mucus reaches the back of the throat, it can block the airways, causing people to temporarily stop breathing while they sleep,” Johnston said. “This leaves them breathless. It can be caused by allergies, changes in weather or the common cold.”
Staying hydrated can help dilute mucus and make it easier to pass. The same goes for mucus-diluting agents, such as Mucinex, and saline nasal irrigations. If over-the-counter strategies do not reduce it, a specialist can stop the postnasal drip by prescribing a decongestant to help clear the mucus and prevent the throat from blocking, while checking for other possible causes, such as a sinus condition, such as · Allergies or sinusitis.
Acid reflux can also cause shortness of breath, thanks to acidic secretions from the stomach that reach the esophagus. “Patients will often feel a sour sensation in their mouth,” Johnston said. Sleeping on your left side, lifting your upper half with a wedge pillow, or popping antacids can help control your nightmares.
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Snoring and wheezing can be a sign of a sleep condition that is dangerous if left untreated.
Snoring
Snoring is another common symptom of sleep apnea. “When there is a narrowing along the airways, either in the nose or in the throat, the tissue starts to vibrate and make a snoring sound,” Khan said. “This can be associated with breathing air or blowing while sleeping, dry mouth in the morning and nasal congestion.”
It can also be caused by allergies or a common cold, in addition to being overweight, Johnston said. Shortness of breath and increased sweating are additional symptoms that can disrupt sleep.
A sleep specialist may ask for a sleep study to determine if you have sleep apnea. If there is no evidence of sleep apnea, different treatment options for snoring include sleeping on your side, lifting your head from bed, using nasal strips, nasal sprays, or a mouthwash.
Sleepwalking
Sleepwalking is considered a parasomnia, or an undesirable behavior or experience during sleep. “It is a disorder during the deepest stage of non-REM sleep when the brain is interrupted and is in a state between sleep and wakefulness,” Khan said.
It can be caused by sleep deprivation, stress, anxiety or fever. Taking certain medications, such as hypnotics, sedatives, or certain medications used for psychiatric disorders, can also be a contributing factor. Ditto alcohol consumption.
A sleep specialist can diagnose this disorder by making a thorough history and requesting a sleep study. Preventive measures (such as adjusting medications and waking up about 15 minutes before going to bed) are recommended, and triggers such as sleep deprivation, stress, and alcohol should be avoided.
Speaking of sleep
Talking about sleep, or somnolence, is one of the most common parasomnias with an unknown cause. “It’s more common in people with mental illness and can be associated with sleepwalking and nightmares,” Khan said. Other causes may include emotional stress, fever, and substance abuse.
“These health conditions can lead to reduced ability to concentrate, extreme mood swings, or hallucinations,” Johnston said. “If sleeping for sleep is not normal and causes alarm, it is important to see a specialist.”
They can diagnose this disorder by making a thorough history and requesting a sleep study if necessary. “Preventive measures are recommended, where triggers such as stress, sleep deprivation and alcohol are avoided,” Khan said.
Some medications, such as antidepressants, can cause sleep deprivation, so your specialist may also make adjustments to what you are taking.
Chronic nightmares
Ongoing nightmares can be caused by a number of different psychological triggers, the most common of which are anxiety and depression. Changes in your schedule that disturb or reduce the amount of sleep can also cause an increase in nightmares, as can post-traumatic stress disorder.
Treatment of chronic nightmares may be necessary if your nightmares are causing you anxiety, disturbing your sleep and interfering with your daytime functioning.
“Chronic nightmares can cause extreme adverse health effects, such as an increased risk of suicide, heart disease and obesity,” Johnston said. “Those who suffer from chronic nightmares should seek treatment and advice from a medical professional.”
Your nightmares can be a side effect of a medicine you are taking, in which case your doctor may change the dose or prescription to relieve your nightmares, Johnston said. They can also help you find time management, prioritization, and stress reduction skills that are appropriate for your situation if your nightmares are caused by anxiety and depression.
Image trial therapy, which involves changing the end of the remembered nightmare while you are awake, and then rehearsing the new ending in your mind, can be very successful in treating recurrent nightmares caused by PTSD.
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Persistent nightmares can be a sign that something else is happening to your mental health.
Waking up frequently to pee
Nocturia, or waking up to pee in the middle of the night, becomes more common as you get older, but it can also be a sign of something else.
“It can be caused by the bladder’s natural aging process or triggered by a medical problem,” Khan said. Nocturia can occur on its own or coincide with urination frequently during the day.
The most obvious cause is drinking too much liquid too close to bedtime. However, other health conditions that cause frequent urination at night can be more serious, such as a bladder or urinary tract infection, diabetes, an enlarged prostate gland, or chronic kidney failure.
“To control the problem, you can first start by limiting the amount of fluid you ingest before going to bed,” Johnston said. Keep a diary of your bladder for a few days of how much you drink, how often you should go to the bathroom, and approximately how much you peed. (“You should also record the medications you are taking, urinary tract infections, and any related symptoms,” Johnston said.)
Your doctor can then use this information to determine the possible causes and treatment of your nocturia. Depending on your health, treatments may include anticholinergic drugs, which reduce the symptoms of an overactive bladder, or treat illness or infection, such as diabetes or a UTI.
Grind your teeth
Adverse effects of sleep bruxism, in which you learn or grit your teeth while sleeping, can be noticed during the day by a deaf headache or jaw pain. It is considered a sleep-related movement disorder, and according to the Mayo Clinic, people who grind their teeth during sleep are more likely to have other sleep disorders, such as snoring and sleep apnea.
“Bruxism can be caused by stress and anxiety, but it’s more likely to be caused by an abnormal bite,” Johnston said. “Your dentist may examine your mouth and jaw for signs and symptoms, such as tooth wear or loose teeth. The dentist may then equip the individual with a mouth guard to protect their teeth at night. “.
Falling asleep too fast
Being able to fall asleep quickly is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to face the day. “However, if you sleep less than the recommended seven or nine hours each night and you faint the moment your head touches your pillow, your body may tell you that you need more rest,” Johnston said. .
Other signs of sleep deprivation include excessive daytime sleepiness and difficulty regulating emotions or focusing on simple tasks. Another sign is feeling drowsy or falling asleep when doing daily activities, such as watching TV or driving.
“If you suspect you may be experiencing sleep deprivation, you can use the Epworth sleepiness scale to measure the severity of your sleepiness, but it is also recommended that you seek a sleep specialist so that he or she can perform the appropriate tests to help you. to sleep again. track, “Johnston said, especially if you already practice proper sleep hygiene and sleep deprivation is still a common occurrence.
It can be a sign of a sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea or …