3 signs that tell you have a sleep disorder and you need to consult a doctor
Only in the past few years has sleep become a topic of discussion. Be it its importance for weight loss or for general sanity. The reason it is being talked about so often these days is because many people are suffering from sleep related issues and in fact several recent studies have revealed that people do not sleep well enough. This poor sleep is hampering their physical as well as mental well being. An international clinical psychologist and founder of The Sleep Practice, Dr Holly Milling revealed the three signs that tells you are suffering from a sleep disorder.
Sleep deprivation is rife across countries and is a bigger scale problem that we are releasing today. While there are several causes of sleep loss, like stress, long working hours, poor lifestyle, excessive phone use, it can also signal a sleep disorder.
The three telltale signs of a sleep disorder are
1) You are struggling to sleep 2) You are waking up feeling tired and unrefreshed
3) You are experiencing extreme daytime sleepiness
If the above three things are happening to you on a regular basis, it means you must visit a doctor.
As per data on Mayo Clinic, sleep disorders can be divided into categories based on one's natural sleep cycle, breathing issues, difficulty in sleeping or how sleepy you feel during daytime.
Some of the most common sleep disorders are
Insomnia - This occurs when you find it extremely difficult to sleep at night or even to stay in the slumber state through the night.
Sleep Apnea - Sleep apnea is connected to your abnormal breathing patterns during sleep.
Restless leg syndrome (RLS) - This is a sort of a sleep movement disorder. It makes people want to move their legs in their sleep.
Narcolepsy - This condition is caused due to extreme sluggishness and sleepiness during the day, so much that people suddenly fall asleep without even realising.
How to fix sleep loss
To be honest, if you have reached a stage of sleep disorder, only a GP can guide you on ways to fix it but there are some general lifestyle tips that can help you greatly.
Fix a sleep-wake routine - Sleep and wake up at the same time everyday. Do not compromise on your sleep time as this will regulate your body clock and help you sleep better
Avoid caffeine post lunch
Make your room bright with natural light on waking up - open the windows and balcony door
Create a pre sleep routine - An hour before bedtime, start prepping for next day, curl up with a book and then transition into sleep time so you body knows you are ending your day
Cut down screen time before sleep - This has been said time and again, yet we will say it again! Reduce screens and blue light exposure in the evenings
Make sure your room is cool, dark and quiet!
Tackle stress - Stress can disrupt your sleep cycle so identify your stressors and work on fixing it. You can try workouts, taking off time, meditation
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