Sleep Disorders & the Parkinson's Disease Patient

Sleep disorders account for a significant number of accidents, injuries and illnesses among adults, especially the elder population. For the elderly, the progressive change in sleep cycles often results to a decrease in the quality of sleep at night, resulting in excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS).

For some of the elderly, especially those who are suffering from Parkinson's disease, the risk for a sleep disorder is not uncommon. In fact, over 80 percent of all Parkinson's disease patients will suffer from some form of sleep disorder during the latter decades of life.

Natural aging complications, such as changes in nocturia, increased incidences of arousal, change in temperature, hormonal levels and even changes in circadian rhythm, can lead to complications involving the development of sleep disorders. In those individuals suffering from Parkinson's disease, these same health complications are present and compounded by the irregularity of dopamine and the associated drugs used to treat Parkinson's disease.

Quite common among those with Parkinson's disease is the risk for developing complications known as sleep attacks. As a sudden sleep occurrence that results in the development of muscle relaxation, many Parkinson's patients who suffer from frequent falls may actually be experiencing complications involving sleep attacks.

If you suffer from Parkinson's disease and have found that you are experiencing daytime sleepiness, sleep attacks or complications with sleep in the evening, it is important to begin keeping a sleep log. In the sleep log, information about sleep cycles, periods of insomnia, food and beverage intake and medication usages are important.