Sleep disturbances - Thrive Hormone Therapy

Sleep disturbances refer to disorders that affect the ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. They involve difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, waking up too early, or feeling unrested despite adequate duration of sleep. Some common types of sleep disturbances include:

• Insomnia: Trouble falling or staying asleep. This can involve difficulty falling asleep at bedtime, waking up frequently during the night, or waking up earlier than desired.
• Sleep apnea: Brief pauses in breathing during sleep, which leads to reduced oxygen levels and poor sleep quality. This often causes loud snoring.
• Restless legs syndrome (RLS): Unpleasant sensations like creeping, crawling, tingling, pulling, or uneasy feelings in the legs. These symptoms worsen at night and relieve with movement. RLS makes it hard to fall or stay asleep.
• Narcolepsy: Overwhelming daytime sleepiness and sudden muscle weakness triggered by strong emotions like laughter, anger or surprise. People may randomly fall asleep during the day.
• Circadian rhythm disorders: When the body's internal sleep-wake clock is out of sync, causing trouble sleeping at night or excessive sleepiness during the day.

What causes sleep disturbances? There are often multiple underlying causes, including:

• Medical conditions like asthma, depression, arthritis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease
• Medications, caffeine, alcohol or nicotine use
• Stress, anxiety or trauma
• Poor sleep habits like inconsistent bedtimes, using electronics before bed, uncomfortable sleep environment

Some effects of ongoing sleep disturbances include:

• Fatigue, low energy, sleepiness during the day
• Problems with memory, concentration or mood
• Impaired immune system, frequent illnesses
• Increased errors, accidents or injuries
• Obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease

How are sleep disorders treated? Treatment options depend on the specific type and cause but may include:

• Improving sleep habits and environment
• Addressing underlying medical issues
• Changing medications if they interfere with sleep
• Relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety
• Cognitive behavioral therapy to modify sleep behaviors
• Oral appliances or CPAP for sleep apnea
• Bright light therapy or melatonin for circadian issues
• Medications in some cases

Getting adequate good quality sleep is vital for health. Seeking treatment for ongoing sleep problems can help prevent complications and improve quality of life. Reach out to Thrive Hormone Therapy if you continually have trouble sleeping.