With more than a third of adults sleeping less than the prescribed minimum of 7 hours, sleep disorders are more common than you realize. In our fast-paced world, many people struggle with sleep problems that harm their well-being. In all likelihood, you might be one of them. You must dig deeper and address these issues since if overlooked, they may lead to chronic illnesses like heart problems, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and depression. Additionally, they cause errors at work and loss of productivity. For instance, it cost the US economy $299 billion to $433 billion in 2020. In this blog, we explore sleep disorders and how online doctor consultation can help you get treatment for better sleep. Are You Aware of the Different Types of Sleep Disorders? What exactly counts as a sleep disorder? The APA defines sleep disorders as ‘involving problems with the quality, timing, and amount of sleep, resulting in distress and functional impairment when awake’. With more than 100 sleep disorders, here are some of the most common categories of sleep disorders: ●
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Insomnia: Insomnia is when individuals have difficulty falling/staying asleep or poor sleep quality. It can be short-term or chronic and often results from stress, anxiety, or other health issues. In the United States, insomnia is the most prevalent sleep disorder affecting about 33% of people. Sleep Apnea: Sleep apnea is characterized by intermittent pauses in breathing during sleep. It can lead to loud snoring, choking, and daytime sleepiness. About 1 billion people suffer from sleep apnea globally, while 80-90% go undiagnosed. Narcolepsy: Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden episodes of falling asleep. It affects about 1 in 2,000 people in the United States. Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS): RLS is a condition where individuals experience a strong urge to move their legs when asleep, often due to uncomfortable sensations. It affects around 5 to 10% of adults in the US.
At-Home Tests for Sleep Disorders and Their Effectiveness If you have ever suffered from sleeping problems, you may have searched online and found some at-home sleep tests. You can perform mainly two kinds of tests by yourself: Questionnaires Several different sleep scales are available that you can use to determine your sleep quality. They come as a questionnaire wherein you respond to questions and self-grade yourself. Some of those tests are STOP-BANG, SQS, SDQ, OSA50, PSQI, and ISI. Home Sleep Apnea Test (HSAT)