A sleep disorder (somnipathy) is a disorder in the sleep patterns of a person or animal. Some sleep disorders can interfere with mental and emotional function.
The most common sleep disorders include:

  • Bruxism: The sufferer involuntarily grinds his or her teeth while sleeping
  • Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS): a sleep disorder of circadian rhythm
  • Insomnia: Inability to fall asleep and/or remain asleep for a reasonable amount of time
  • Jet lag or desynchronosis: Temporary condition resulting in out of sync sleep patterns as a result of rapidly travelling across multiple time zones
  • Narcolepsy: The condition of falling asleep spontaneously and unwillfully
  • Night terror or Pavor nocturnus or sleep terror disorder: abrupt awakening from sleep with behavior consistent with terror
  • Parasomnias: Include a variety of disruptive sleep-related events
  • Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD): Involuntary movement of arms and/or legs during sleep. See also Hypnic jerk, which is not a disorder
  • Rapid eye movement behavior disorder (RBD): Acting out violent or dramatic dreams while in REM sleep
  • Restless legs syndrome (RLS): An irresistible urge to move legs while sleeping. Often accompanies PLMD
  • Sleep apnea: The obstruction of the airway during sleep
  • Sleep paralysis: Conscious paralysis upon waking or falling asleep
  • Sleepwalking or somnambulism: Engaging in activities that are normally associated with wakefulness (such as eating or dressing), which may include walking, without the conscious knowledge of the subject
  • Snoring: Loud breathing patterns while sleeping, sometimes accompanying sleep apnea

Common causes of sleep disorders

Changes in life style, such as shift work change (SWC), can contribute to sleep disorders.
Other problems that can affect sleep:

  • Back pain
  • Chronic pain
  • Sciatica
  • Neck problems
  • Environmental noise
  • Incontinence
  • Babies that wake frequently
  • Various drugs - Many drugs can affect the ratio of the various stages of sleep, thus affecting the overall quality of sleep. Poor sleep can lead to accumulation of Sleep debt
  • Endocrine imbalance mainly related with cortisol but not limited to this hormone
  • Chrobiological disorders, mainly circadian rythm disorders

A sleep diary can be used to help diagnose, and measure improvements in sleep disorders. The Epworth sleepiness scale is another useful diagnostic tool.
Any time back pain or another form of chronic pain is present, both the pain and the sleep problems should be treated simultaneously, as pain can lead to sleep problems and vice versa.

How much sleep do older adults need?

Most adults need about 8 hours of sleep at night to feel fully alert when they’re awake. This is usually true for people age 65 or older too. But as we get older, we might have more trouble sleeping. Many things can get in the way of sleeping well or sleeping long enough to be fully rested.

What sleep changes are common in older adults?

Older adults might get sleepy earlier in the evening. Older adults may have trouble falling asleep when they go to bed at night. They might not stay asleep all night. They might wake up very early in the morning and not be able to go back to sleep. These problems can make older people very sleepy in the daytime.

Risks of suffering an upheaval of the dream

You might want to take an interactive quiz about your risk factors for developing a sleep disorder.
The following habits and conditions are risk factors for a sleep disorder:

• poor sleep environment (e.g., too noisy, too brightly lit, too hot, or too cold)
• excessive caffeine or alcohol
• use of certain medications and drugs
• smoking or chewing tobacco
• anxiety, depression, or another mood disorder
• stress, such as the death of a loved one, or job pressure
• an unhealthy sleep routine
• daytime napping
• early or late-night bedtimes
• traveling between time zones
• shift work with a rotating schedule
• illness
• obesity
There are many things you can do to reduce your risk of developing a sleep disorder. You may want to consider making changes to your lifestyle, or you can consult with your doctor to learn how you can improve your health. By making small changes, you can greatly improve the quality of your sleep and thereby the overall quality of your mental and physical well-being.

Principal rules for the good one to sleep

  1. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time every day
  2. Try not to take naps longer than about 20 minutes
  3. Don’t have caffeinated drinks after lunch
  4. Don’t drink alcohol in the evening. It might help you fall asleep, but it will probably make you wake up in the middle of the night
  5. Don’t lie in bed for a long time trying to go to sleep. After 30 minutes of trying to sleep, get up and do something quiet for a while, like reading or listening to quiet music. Then try again to fall asleep in bed
  6. Ask your doctor if any of your medicines could be keeping you awake at night
  7. Ask your doctor for help if pain or other health problems keep you awake
  8. Try a little exercise every day. Exercise helps many older adults sleep better.

Sex and Snoring

A study of over 4,900 snoring patients confirms that snoring is no laughing matter when it comes to sex and divorce. Over 80% of snoring couples sleep in separate bedrooms. Sleep deprivation due to a partner’s snoring makes it a challenge to be cheerful in the morning and can have a negative effect on the rest of their day, too.
“The stress suffered by the snorer’s bed partner isn’t the only stress with which we should concern ourselves,” says Director of Center For Corrective Surgery “Patients also realize it is a major social challenge and it turns out that snoring can have negative effects on the sexual function of the snorer as well,”. The findings confirm another study that a significant number of heavy snorers have reduced sexual drive. Over 50% of snoring men also experience erectile dysfunction.
Snoring occurs because of vibration of tissues in the throat or behind the tongue. They include an excessively large tongue, tonsils or soft palate and elongated uvula — the punching bag in the back of your throat. “When these tissues block your windpipe during sleep, you stop breathing — a serious condition known as sleep apnea. Snoring is one of the major signs of this deadly disorder. This interrupted breathing causes the concentration of oxygen in your body to drop, leading to fatigue, depression and sexual dysfunction.
Most snorers, however, do not realize they have sleep deprivation because they may be so tired they think they are good sleepers. Generally, an individual suffering from sleep apnea may not be getting the full night’s sleep he or she needs.
Snoring and sleep apnea can also lead to other complications, including high blood pressure, increased risk of heart attack or stroke and excessive daytime sleepiness. All of these conditions can suppress a healthy interest in sex.

“The longer the night lasts, the more our dreams will be.” - Chinese proverb

Sources: Medopedia, Help Guide, Talk About sleep

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