Many suffer from the problem of sleep disturbance, so what are the methods of diagnosing sleep disorder? How can this problem be treated? Let''s get acquainted.
Methods for diagnosing sleep disorders
Diagnosing a sleep disorder requires researching the patient’s details in order to obtain the correct diagnosis, as there are several types of sleep disorders. We will discuss the method of diagnosing them in the following lines:
Diagnosing a sleep disorder
Sleep disorder is diagnosed according to the type of disorder as follows
1. Diagnosis of insomnia
Insomnia refers to difficulty falling asleep or difficulty sleeping for long hours, and it is of two types:
Transient insomnia: which occurs for a compelling reason, such as life problems or the loss of a loved one, and some people may develop this disorder when traveling on an airplane.
Chronic insomnia: It is what accompanies a person for a long period of time and leads to a feeling of fatigue during the day if it is intermittent. In other cases, the patient may get enough sleep for a few days nating with days of insomnia.
In order for a sleep disorder to be accurately diagnosed, the patient may display one or more of the following signs:
Feeling exhausted and tired.
Finding it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep.
Waking up after a short period of sleep frequently.
Feeling of resistance to sleeping at a late hour.
Inability to fall asleep without assistance.
Feeling excessively sleepy during the day and low energy levels.
Finding it difficult to focus and remember.
Impulsivity, hyperactivity, and other behavioral problems.
2. Diagnosis of sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is associated with obstruction of the upper respiratory tract. This causes a feeling of suffocation and severe snoring. In this case, the patient suffers from fatigue and excessive sleepiness, in addition to several cognitive impairments. This type of sleep disorder falls into two types, namely:
Obstructive sleep apnea: This disorder occurs due to obstruction of the upper respiratory tract as a result of several problems, including: adenoids, enlarged tonsils, kidney failure, fluid accumulation in the lungs, and others.
Central sleep apnea: Central sleep apnea occurs because the brain stops sending signals to the muscles that control breathing. This causes a feeling of suffocation during sleep.
The diagnosis of sleep apnea is based on the presence of the following symptoms
Snoring loudly.
Feeling very sleepy during the day.
Feeling tired and irritable.
Waking up during the night with a dry or sore throat.
Feeling of losing energy.
Waking up from sleep due to a feeling of suffocation.
Headache.
3. Diagnosis of numbness
The state of numbness leads to sudden sleep anywhere, and the affected people are unable to regulate their sleep-wake cycle, and the diagnosis of this sleep disorder is made by a psychiatrist, neurologist, or a doctor specializing in sleep disorder, as he asks several questions to the patient to reach A physical examination, health history, and medications the patient is taking can also help in the diagnosis.
4. Diagnosis of restless legs syndrome
Restless legs syndrome is the inability to control the legs during sleep, and this condition may be accompanied by a feeling of disturbing pain, tingling, and burning, and in order to diagnose a sleep disorder, the following diagnostic criteria must be met:
A strong urge to move the legs with a feeling of discomfort, which is worse when sleeping or at night rather than during the day.
Feeling partial or complete relief after moving the legs.
Feeling anxious, restless, disturbed sleep, or mentally, behaviourally, emotionally, socially, or occupationally impaired.
After the doctor asks the patient several questions, he or she may order a blood test or refer the case to a sleep disorder doctor.
5. Diagnosis of excessive sleepiness
It is the feeling of extreme sleepiness during the day, and it may be accompanied by a feeling of dizziness. This sleep disorder is diagnosed by tracking sleep and waking habits for more than a week before visiting the doctor so that he can correctly determine the condition.
Medications for the treatment of sleep disorders
The doctor may prescribe several types of medications to treat a sleep disorder after diagnosing a sleep disorder, depending on its type, as follows:
Dopamine agonists (Anti-Parkinsonian drugs): Dopamine agonists can be used to treat restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder.
Benzodiazepines: These drugs are classified as hypnotic drugs, and can also be used to treat bruxism and insomnia.
Non-benzodiazepine hypnotics: Used to treat short-term insomnia, these include zolpidem and eszopiclone.
Melatonin receptor stimulators: such as Ramelteon, which is used to treat insomnia.
Anticonvulsants: such as gabapentin enacarbyl and valproate, which are used to treat several disorders such as insomnia associated with bipolar disorder, restless legs syndrome, night eating syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder.
Antinarcoleptics, including methylphenidate and modafinil, can help improve alertness in people with excessive sleepiness and sleep apnea.
Antidepressants or antianxiety medications: These medications help treat depression and anxiety, and include Mirtazepine and Trazodone.
Tips for getting rid of sleep disorders
Sleep disturbance can be eliminated by following several tips, including
Create an optimal sleep environment in terms of temperature and lighting, and feel free to use earplugs and a sleep mask.
Do not use the bed to eat or watch movies.
Avoid taking a nap shortly before bedtime, and if you feel very sleepy during the day, do not take a nap for more than 30 minutes.
Avoid stimulants, such as: chocolate, tea, coffee, soft drinks, fatty meals, and tobacco 4 hours before bedtime.
Try to exercise 4 hours before bedtime.
Set a regular bedtime and stick to it every day.
