How To Deal With Insomnia And Sleep Apnea

Do you lie awake staring at the ceiling? Do you sleep but drag around the next day because your sleep was not refreshing? Are you waking up before the birds do? Do you wake frequently through the night? If you answered “yes” to two or more questions, you may have a sleep disorder.

Most people need 7 to 8 hours of good, restful sleep. Some need more and some less. There are people who function just fine on 4 hours a night and some that are cranky and sleepy after 8 hours. The question is not how many hours you have slept, but how you feel and function the next day.

There are two types of insomnia: the first is primary insomnia, which are sleep problems not associated with any other health concerns. Secondary insomnia is associated with medical problems such as depression, some medications, and pain.

There are two relatively common conditions that can cause sleep problems. The first is called restless legs. A person suffering from this has legs that won’t let her sit or lie down for very long. There is a sensation that she must move her legs by getting up and walking. Some of the following may help:
Walking, jogging, stretching, taking hot or cold baths, and messaging legs.
If these don’t work, a doctor should be consulted.

The second condition is sleep apnea. This is a potentially fatal condition where the person stops breathing repeatedly, sometimes hundreds of times a night and often for a minute or more. A person suffering form sleep apnea will feel tired and sleepy all the time and can fall asleep at the drop of a hat, even while driving. A partner may complain of very noisy snoring and might even notice that her bed mate has stopped breathing. If you suspect sleep apnea, you should be evaluated at a sleep clinic because this condition can result in death and it is relatively easy to treat.

For those who have primary insomnia, the following may help: