Do You Have a Sleeping Disorder?
By Sara Butler
Do you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning? It’s not unusual to wish you could invent a time machine so you could have more time to sleep at night, but if your lack of sleep and the constant feeling of the need to catch up is interfering with your daily life, then you may have a sleep disorder. Here are some signs to look for that may let you know if there’s something more serious going on under the surface than just needing more sleep at night.
Do You Fall Asleep During the Day?
If you find yourself nodding off inappropriately during the day, such as behind the wheel of your car (Hello! Dangerous!), then you may have a serious problem. This is especially true if you’re getting what you think is a full night’s sleep and still nodding off during the day.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says that sudden, unavoidable, and extreme bouts of falling asleep during the day are a sign of narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a brain disorder that messes with your sleep cycle. You may also notice these symptoms if you have it:
- Abrupt limpness
- Hallucinations
- Paralysis before or after sleep
If you worry you may have narcolepsy, try getting about 30 minutes more sleep every night for a week. If you are still experiencing symptoms, then see a medical professional for a consultation.
Do You Have Problems Falling and Staying Asleep Daily?
It’s not unusual to have periods of time where you feel so stressed you have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. But if falling asleep is a constant battle for you, then you may have insomnia.
Chronic insomnia is experienced by about 10 percent of the population. It’s defined as taking 30 minutes or more to fall asleep on a regular basis or to return to sleep if you wake up. You have to experience these symptoms three or more nights a week for 3 months in order to be diagnosed with insomnia.
Insomnia can be treated in a variety of ways, so talk to your chiropractor or other health care professional if you suspect you have it so you can start to sleep better at night.
Sleep is really important, and there are a variety of issues that can disrupt a good night’s sleep. These are only a couple of the things that can be wrong, so you should talk to your chiropractor about your sleep disturbances and see if they can help you find the reason behind it.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.