Most people occasionally have a hard time falling or staying asleep. While one restless night can lead to a day of exhaustion, it isn’t a big cause for concern. However, if you suffer from a sleep disorder such as restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea or insomnia, life can feel miserable. Without sleep, you may find yourself snapping at loved ones and unable to focus on daily tasks so make sure visit your doctor for help if you suspect you’re suffering from a sleep disorder.

Sleep Apnea

One of the most common sleep disorders is sleep apnea. Nearly 20 million Americans suffer from this condition where the air passages close off while a person sleeps. This causes the oxygen levels in the body to fall dramatically to the point where the person wakes up gasping and choking for air. In severe cases, this can happen up to 20-30 times per hour, making it difficult for someone suffering from sleep apnea to get a good night’s rest.

There are many ways to lessen the severity of this sleep disorder. Many people have great success treating their sleep apnea by just losing some weight. Even 10 pounds can make a big difference! Sleeping semi-upright at a 30 degree angle can also help. However, if these two things don’t eliminate the obstruction, a CPAP machine may finally bring much needed sleep back into your life.

A CPAP machine works by continuously pumping a steady stream of air directly into the airways. The air helps keep the passages open, which in turn eliminates the dangerous oxygen drop. It may take some practice before becoming comfortable wearing a CPAP mask, but there are a variety of masks available to fit every face and sleeping style.

Insomnia

Someone suffering from insomnia may lie awake for hours, willing themselves to fall asleep. Others don’t think they have insomnia because they can fall asleep, but wake up multiple times each night.

Insomnia treatment can vary greatly. The first treatment action plan is a simple one. Getting enough exercise, eliminating caffeine and keeping a strict bedtime routine can help treat insomnia. If you’re not having any luck with these natural remedies, it may be time to consider visiting a doctor or sleep specialist.

Your doctor may suggest trying an herbal supplement such as valerian root or an over the counter sleep aid, but if you still can’t sleep it may be time to move to a prescription sleep aid. Many prescription sleep aids come with a risk of sleepwalking, sleep eating or even sleep driving so make sure someone else is home with you to determine how your body reacts.

Restless Leg Syndrome

It may have a funny name, but restless leg syndrome is nothing to laugh about. Someone suffering from RLS is plagued with unpleasant leg sensations or tingling at bedtime or when they sit down and stretch out their legs. Many people report that the sensations feel like bugs or spiders crawling up and down their legs!

The cause of RLS can baffle doctors. If you’re diagnosed with RLS, most doctors will first test for anemia or another undiagnosed reason. If upping your iron levels doesn’t make the condition go away, your doctor may prescribe a medication to relieve the tingling.

These sleep disorders can make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep, but luckily treatment is available. Sleep is such an important function for our bodies. Without it, our quality of life can diminish rapidly — both physically and emotionally. If you are suffering from lack of sleep for any reason, you owe it to yourself to seek ways to feel healthy and vibrant once again.