Symptoms of
Sleep Disorders
Recognizing the symptoms of sleep disorders is crucial for getting the right diagnosis and treatment before serious health complications develop.
Are You Suffering From a Sleep Disorder?
If you're suffering from an inability to sleep for long stretches through the night, naturally you begin to suspect that you're suffering from a sleep disorder. But there are a number of other signs that can also point to a sleep disorder, some of them more elusive than others.
Whether it's routine headaches or difficulty focusing during the workday, a sleep disorder can manifest itself in a number of surprising ways. Dr. Krish and the team at TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of North Texas can help identify the underlying cause of your symptoms and develop a personalized treatment plan.
Morning Headaches
As you wake up, parts of your brain also become more active and responsive to changes in your body position, touch and sound. As a result, you're more sensitive to external stimuli when you wake up.
In addition, the region of the brain known as the hypothalamus regulates your natural circadian rhythms and sleep during the night. If the hypothalamus is disrupted during the night, it can impact your ability to tolerate pain while you sleep; as a result, while you may not have felt pain overnight, you may feel it more intensely in the morning in the form of regular headaches.
Hypersomnia
This is fairly simple and straightforward: if you don't get enough sleep overnight, you'll likely suffer from hypersomnia, or persistent daytime sleepiness. However, this drowsiness can be particularly pronounced in people who suffer from a chronic sleep disorder like obstructive sleep apnea. If the sleep deprivation has been severe and has occurred with enough regularity, the brain has to catch up somehow. This can take the form of small gaps of time – seconds here and there – where the person falls asleep without realizing it while engaged in a relatively routine activity.
The results of this can be serious. People with excessive daytime drowsiness are at greater risk of motor vehicle accidents and work-related safety incidents, and have poorer health than other adults of the same age, gender and overall body type.
Dry Mouth
Many individuals suffering from a sleep disorder end up breathing mostly through their mouths during the night. As a result, they find themselves waking up frequently during the night needing a drink of water, or because they feel they can't breathe because their mouth has dried out.
This can lead to secondary effects as well, particularly in terms of dental hygiene. Many individuals end up with bad breath throughout the day. In addition, saliva helps to reduce the levels of acid and bacteria in the mouth, meaning dry mouth can result in increased tooth decay and gum disease down the road.
Depression
It has long been known that there is a link between sleep deprivation and overall mood. Researchers may know part of the reason why. One deep region of the brain known as the amygdala is believed to play a key role in the regulation of emotions and anxiety levels.
A recent study showed that individuals who had experienced severe sleep deprivation had a more active amygdala-driven response than individuals who had gotten restful sleep. In addition, portions of the brain that help to regulate the amygdala also appeared to be weaker. In short, people who experience sleep deprivation may have increased difficulty controlling their emotions.
Dental Changes and/or Bruxism
Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is a common occurrence while sleeping. It generally takes place in the early, pre-REM stages of sleep, and can occur across several cycles. Bruxism can easily disrupt sleep patterns by delaying REM sleep, or causing you to awake before beginning your deep sleep cycle.
Obesity and Diabetes
Sleep deprivation has a number of side effects that can dramatically raise your chances of developing diabetes:
- Increased insulin resistance
- Decreased metabolism
- Higher blood pressure
- Increased hunger
- Higher likelihood of eating junk foods high in sugar and carbohydrates
Heartburn and GERD
While it's not entirely clear which is the symptom and the cause, there is a high correlation between sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease. GERD occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter remains open and stomach acid backflows into the esophagus.
Insufficient Sleep Syndrome
Insufficient sleep syndrome is the inability to get the required amount of sleep. This is one of the long-term dangers associated with a chronic sleep disorder: live with sleep deprivation for long enough, and eventually you could lose the ability to get the right amount of sleep even if the disorder is resolved.
Reduced Cognitive Function
It's long been known that sleep deprivation is closely correlated with reduced cognitive function. This presents a few different ways:
- Difficulty focusing on work – particularly on tasks requiring logical reasoning or complex thought processes. If you've gone a while without decent sleep, your alertness and concentration levels are reduced, making it harder to focus and pay attention and becoming more easily confused and distracted.
- Impaired memory – In part this is due to the diminished ability to focus: if information can't make it into your short-term memory, it's not going to go to your long-term memory either. But there's more to it than that. Researchers have found that the nerve connections that help us form memories are strengthened when we sleep, and that different phases of sleep help consolidate new information into memories. When those cycles are disrupted through insufficient or interrupted sleep, your memory is impaired as a result.
- Reduced ability to learn – If you can't focus, you're not going to be able to buckle down and study as effectively. And if your memory is reduced as well, you're not going to be able to retain information as well. This can be particularly concerning for children and adolescents as they go through school.
Reduced Libido
Sleep disorders can lead to other challenges in the bedroom. Sleep deprivation has been linked with reduced sexual desire and arousal in women, and also to a higher risk of erectile dysfunction.
Don't Ignore the Warning Signs
If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, it may be time to seek professional help. Sleep disorders rarely resolve on their own, and the longer they go untreated, the more damage they can cause to your overall health and quality of life.
Dr. Krish and the team at TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of North Texas specialize in diagnosing and treating the root causes of sleep disorders – not just masking the symptoms. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward restful, restorative sleep.
Symptoms of Sleep Disorder: Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common signs and symptoms of a sleep disorder?
How do I know if I have a sleep disorder?
What are the warning signs of sleep apnea?
Can sleep disorders cause morning headaches?
Why am I always tired during the day?
Can sleep disorders cause depression or mood changes?
Is teeth grinding related to sleep disorders?
Can sleep disorders cause dry mouth?
What sleep problems should I not ignore?
Where can I find a sleep disorder doctor in Texas?
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