Your Health

Sleep disorders

The most common sleep disorders are insomnia, Sleep Apnoea (your breathing stops while you are asleep), and snoring.

Insomnia is a condition whereby you have difficulty falling or staying asleep, and the only common symptoms are dissatisfaction with sleep quality and daytime tiredness.

Sleep Apnoea is a condition where the muscles of the throat relax to the point of blocking the airway above the voice box. Breathing stops from a few seconds to a minute until the brain registers a drop in oxygen and send a wake up call, whereby the sleeper rouses and then goes back to sleep immediately.

Snoring affects 20% of the population, and while it is not physically harmful, it can be highly irritating to anyone kept awake by the noise. The bulk of snorers are males aged between 35 and 60 who are overweight and drink alcohol, and thus the best ways to decrease snoring are to reduce alcohol intake and exercise to reduce weight.

For further information on sleep disorders you can visit HealthInsite: Sleep Disorders