In the United States, an estimated 50 to 70 million Americans have a sleep disorder. Both mental and physical functioning rely on quality sleep every day. Sleep is complicated, and numerous factors are involved in getting good sleep and the reasons why so many are unable to. We’ll explore the processes involved in sleep, the disorders people experience and what you can do to rest better every night.

What Is Sleep?

Before diving into sleep disorders and treatment options, it is important to understand the basics of sleep. The sleep cycle has different stages, and, when someone is sleeping normally, they progress through them. The two primary categories are non-REM sleep and REM sleep. REM is short for rapid eye movement. It is characterized by these eye movements, heightened brain activity and vivid dreaming. Experts believe REM sleep is vital for memory consolidation, cognitive function and emotional regulation.

During non-REM sleep, you are in the first two stages of sleep. The first is light sleep and the second is deeper sleep. The third and fourth sleep stages are slow-wave sleep.

The circadian rhythm is what regulates sleep. This is essentially an internal biological clock, and it follows a cycle that lasts roughly 24 hours. Several external factors can influence this rhythm, such as darkness and light, to regulate your cycle of sleeping and being awake.

As you sleep, the body releases different hormones. For example, it releases the growth hormone, which is important for muscle repair, physical growth and overall well-being. The sleep-wake cycle also influences the balance of different hormones, such as melatonin and cortisol.

Exactly how much sleep a person requires varies, but the general recommendation for adults is seven to eight and a half hours per night. Chronic sleep deprivation can eventually affect different areas of your mental, emotional and physical health.

Introduction to Sleep Disorders

There is a range of disorders that interfere with someone’s ability to sleep, resulting in trouble staying asleep, falling asleep and getting restorative sleep. The first step in getting the appropriate treatment for a sleep disorder is knowing what they are, how they present and why they occur.

Types, Symptoms and Causes

Insomnia is characterized by having trouble getting to or staying asleep. As a result, it is harder to function during the day due to fatigue. This disorder can result from anxiety, certain medications, stress, depression or certain lifestyle factors, such as consuming a lot of caffeine.

Sleep apnea is a condition where there are breathing interruptions during sleep. This results in brief episodes of oxygen desaturation and awakenings. The two primary types include central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea. When someone has this disorder, it could cause choking or gasping, loud snoring and daytime sleepiness. Different factors could lead to sleep apnea, such as getting older, having a family history of the disorder and obesity.

Narcolepsy is a sleep and neurological disorder. People experience uncontrollable and sudden sleep episodes along with excessive daytime sleepiness. Symptoms can also include sleep paralysis, hallucinations and the sudden loss of muscle tone. A deficiency of the neurotransmitter hypocretin is often associated with this disorder.

Parasomnias refer to abnormal movements or behaviors when you are sleeping. They often happen during specific sleep stages. The common types include nightmares, sleepwalking, night terrors and sleep eating. Several things can trigger parasomnias, including sleep deprivation, stress and certain medicines.

Circadian rhythm disorders include advanced sleep-phase syndrome, delayed sleep-phase syndrome and shift-work sleep disorder. They are characterized by a misalignment between the external environment and the body’s internal clock. These disorders can cause fatigue, insomnia and mood disturbances.

Diagnostic Procedures

The first step is usually going through the client’s sleep and medical history. During this step, the doctor will ask about things, like past medical history, sleep quality, sleep duration, your bedtime routine and any sleep-related symptoms. You may be asked to keep a sleep diary for a couple of weeks to better provide this type of information.

Next, a physical examination is common. This is especially important if the doctor suspects a condition, like sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome.

It is common to fill out standardized sleep questionnaires. To get a better look at sleep quality, there is the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Evaluating daytime sleepiness might require the Epworth Sleepiness Scale.

When sleep apnea is suspected, the first step is often home sleep apnea testing. This involves using a monitor to keep an eye on your oxygen levels, breathing and heart rate while you are sleeping. Depending on the results, the doctor might recommend having a more comprehensive test in the clinic.

Polysomnography is a more sophisticated test for sleep disorders. It is commonly used to help diagnose narcolepsy, sleep apnea and certain parasomnias. This testing allows a professional to monitor and examine a variety of physiological parameters while you sleep, including eye movement, muscle activity, brain activity, heart rate and respiratory function.

Actigraphy is a test that might help if a client has trouble with their circadian rhythm or sleep-wake patterns. To perform this test, clients have to wear a small device. This will record light exposure and movement over a long time.

If narcolepsy is suspected, Maintenance of Wakefulness Testing or a Multiple Sleep Latency Test could be helpful. These work to assess alertness and daytime sleepiness.

Focus on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy for sleep disorders has a specific approach. This specialized form is referred to as CBT-I, and there are several key components.

Professionals will help their clients learn about sleep hygiene. This generally involves information about how to create a comfortable sleep environment, why a consistent sleep schedule is important and various methods that help people to relax before they go to bed.

Clients will learn about stimulus control and how to create a connection between being asleep and being in bed. Learn about the activities to avoid before heading to bed so that you do not do anything too stimulating before bed. This can also include a sleep restriction, which is characterized by adjusting your sleeping times until you get on the desired sleep-wake cycle.

For many people, worries and negative thoughts interfere with their sleep. The cognitive therapy component of this treatment focuses on helping people identify their troublesome thoughts and work to modify them. This is one of the most common treatment approaches for insomnia since negative thoughts and worries are often attributed to not being able to sleep.

Clients learn about relaxation techniques. They learn how to perform and use methods, like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery. Keeping a sleep diary is another common part of this. Professionals educate clients about what to record in their diary and how to use it to improve sleep.

Medical Interventions

Managing sleep disorders may require a combination of CBT-I and medical interventions. This could include a range of treatments from medications to surgery, depending on the sleep disorder a client is dealing with.

Medications

Various medications could benefit clients with sleep disorders. Ultimately, their unique health status and the sleep issues they are dealing with will determine the best medicines for them.

For insomnia, sedative-hypnotic medicines could be helpful. Examples include non-benzodiazepines, like eszopiclone and zolpidem, and benzodiazepines, like lorazepam and diazepam. These can help you stay asleep and fall asleep.

Those with a sleep-related movement disorder might benefit from dopamine agonists. For example, doctors might prescribe ropinirole or pramipexole if a client has restless legs syndrome.

Narcolepsy can make you excessively sleepy during the daytime. Because of this, doctors might prescribe methylphenidate, modafinil or a similar stimulant medication.

Certain antidepressants can be helpful for some sleep disorders, such as parasomnias and insomnia. Doctors typically prescribe serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for these disorders.

Some sleep disorders require help with regulating the sleep-wake cycle, such as insomnia or a circadian rhythm disorder. Melatonin agonist medicines, like ramelteon or melatonin supplements, might be helpful for these disorders.

For those with short-term insomnia, doctors might recommend an antihistamine, for example, diphenhydramine. These medicines make you feel drowsy so they could help you to fall asleep.

Sleep Apnea Treatments

CPAP therapy for sleep apnea is often the first line of treatment for this disorder. Clients will use a machine when they are sleeping that has a mask and hose attached to it. The mask provides them with continuous air as they sleep. This helps to keep their airway open so that they don’t experience breathing issues during sleep.

Oral appliances might also be ideal for people who have mild to moderate sleep apnea. These are small devices that work to reposition their jaw or tongue. The purpose is to help keep the airway open while they are sleeping.

When oral appliances and CPAP are not enough, surgery might help people who have sleep apnea. There are a few options that doctors can discuss with you, including genioglossus advancement, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and maxillomandibular advancement.

Other Treatment Options

There are some additional treatment methods doctors might suggest, offering a more holistic approach. Lifestyle modifications can benefit people. Your doctor might talk to you about creating a regular exercise routine or managing your weight.

Light therapy can help some clients who have circadian rhythm disorders. This therapy involves exposing yourself to bright light to regulate this rhythm. In some cases, getting this exposure for a short time in the morning can help regulate your sleep-wake cycle.

Granite Recovery Center’s Approach

We are a movement and not just a recovery center. Our center uses a multifaceted treatment model that we tailor to individual clients. We employ the best professionals in the field who have not only the right education, but also other talents that allow them to tackle a variety of sleep disorders.

Our comprehensive care model provides a solid approach to sleep disorders. We treat the disorder and provide care and support for everything that surrounds it, too. There are different specialized treatment programs that we discuss with each client so that we can create a plan that works specifically for them.

The Granite Recovery Center’s expertise in sleep disorder treatment helps ensure that you get comprehensive care. We will work with you every step of the way to get to the root of the disorder so we can work together on a treatment plan that addresses every element of your sleep issues.

Holistic Care Model

Managing sleep disorders works best with a holistic care model. Holistic care treats the total person — body, mind and spirit. We work with you to treat your sleep disorder by addressing your life’s physical, psychological and spiritual dimensions.

We focus on both your mental and emotional state while also addressing any physical issues associated with your sleep disorder. This is vital because sleep issues are usually not just a simple fix. By taking a holistic approach, we help you achieve greater wellness overall while also tackling your sleep problems. Get in touch with us today to find out more.