Dr. Mazlen Can Treat Your Sleep Disorder

Mon, 04/13/2009 - 23:50 — testadmin

Sleep Disorders

Most adults need at least eight hours of sleep every night to be well rested. Not everyone gets the sleep they need. About 40 million people in the U.S. suffer from sleep disorders every year. Health problems can arise if you are not getting enough sleep for a long time. For example, it can make problems like diabetes and high blood pressure worse. If you are having problems sleeping, you need to see an experienced doctor who specializes in sleep disorders.
 
What are the different types of sleep problems? 

  • Insomnia
  • Feeling sleepy during the day
  • Snoring
  • Sleep apnea
  • Insomnia

Insomnia
 
Insomnia includes having difficulty falling asleep, having trouble staying asleep, and waking up too early. Most people will have trouble falling asleep from time to time. It is usually nothing to worry about. Stress, like the loss of a job or a death in the family could cause problems falling asleep. Certain medicines can make it hard to fall asleep. Drinking alcohol or eating too close to bedtime can keep you awake, too.
Insomnia is called chronic (long-term) when it lasts most nights for a few weeks or more. You should see your doctor if this happens. Insomnia is more common in females, people with depression, and in people older than 60.
Taking medicine together with some changes to your routine can help most people with insomnia (about 85 percent). Certain drugs work in the brain to help promote sleep.
 
Feeling Sleepy During the Day
 
Feeling tired every now and then is normal. It is not normal for sleepiness to interfere with your daily life. Watch for signs like:

  • Slowed thinking
  • Trouble paying attention
  • Heavy eyelids
  • Feeling cranky

 
Several sleep disorders can make you sleepy during the day. One of these is narcolepsy. People with narcolepsy feel very sleepy even after a full night's sleep. It is normal to take between 10 and 20 minutes to fall asleep. People who fall asleep in less than five minutes may have a serious sleep disorder.
 
Snoring
 
Snoring is noisy breathing during sleep. It is caused by vibrating in the throat. Some people can make changes that will stop snoring such as losing weight, cutting down on smoking and alcohol, and sleeping on your side instead of on your back.
You can buy over-the-counter nasal strips to help prevent snoring. You place one over your nose before going to bed to make breathing easier.
 
Sleep Apnea
 
Snoring loud and often, together with too much daytime sleepiness, may be signs of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a very common sleep disorder and is more common among men than women. People with sleep apnea tend to be overweight. The most common type of sleep apnea happens when your breathing stops during sleep. It can stop for about 10 seconds to as long as a minute. You wake up trying to breathe. This stop-and-start cycle of waking to breathe can repeat hundreds of times a night. If you have this problem, you are likely to feel sleepy during the day.
 
The most common treatment is a device that pushes air through the airway. This device is called a CPAP. Avoid beer, wine, liquor, tobacco, and sleeping pills. Your doctor may also suggest you lose weight. In some cases, you may need surgery to make the airway bigger.
 
If you are tired of having sleep problems interfere with your life, call 516-869-0717 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Mazlen and start getting the treatment you need to improve your quality of life.