A variety of factors can deprive you of sleep now and then, from caffeine or other stimulants to emotional stress and discomfort from joint pain. However, some sleep problems can originate in the brain itself. Take a look at three such disorders that a sleep center study can help diagnose.
1. Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy causes massive disruptions to your normal sleep cycle. As a result, you may find yourself waking frequently during the night and then feeling an overwhelming urge to sleep during the day. Some people with narcolepsy also experience sudden muscle limpness, hallucinations on awakening, and memory lapses.
You might struggle with narcolepsy all your life without necessarily knowing it. In fact, up to one-half of the people who have this neurological disorder never receive a formal diagnosis.
2. Central Sleep Apnea
People with sleep apnea wake up for brief intervals many times each night, causing them to feel groggy and exhausted. The most common variety, obstructive sleep apnea, occurs when the airway relaxes too much or gets partially blocked. However, you can also experience sleep apnea for neurological reasons.
Central sleep apnea can stem from certain medications and health problems as well as high-altitude breathing difficulties. However, a neurological problem such as a lesion on the brain stem, a brain tumor, or a recent stroke can also throw your sleep cycle out of balance. Treatment of the underlying cause may resolve your sleep apnea.
3. REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
Sleep consists of several neurological cycles, including rapid eye motion or REM sleep. When you slip into REM sleep, your brain experiences dreams even as it keeps your body completely paralyzed. In a neurological problem called REM sleep behavior disorder, this paralysis fails to occur, leaving your body free to move about.
REM sleep behavior disorder can prove dangerous to you and/or your sleep partner. In addition to talking or screaming in response to your dreams, you may flail about or lash about in a manner that leads to injuries. You could also engage in sleepwalking, a behavior that places you at risk of falling or otherwise hurting yourself.
If you or someone you love struggles with a suspected neurological sleep disorder, earlier diagnosis can mean earlier treatment. Ask your primary care physician to refer you or your loved one to a sleep center for evaluation. You can receive the appropriate neurological services and treatment for your particular condition.
Is your knee stiff and painful every morning when you get out of bed? Perhaps, you sometimes feel a grinding sensation in your knee. If you can relate to this frustrating situation, you might be suffering from osteoarthritis. Thankfully, several treatments are available for this joint condition. Sometimes, physicians recommend patients battling osteoarthritis of the knee take a prescription painkiller. Doctors also often encourage patients to lose weight and start a low-impact exercise program. Swimming and walking are both great forms of low-impact exercise. On this blog, I hope you will discover how to effectively and quickly relieve the painful symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee. Enjoy!