Many people today suffer from sleep problems. Some don’t even realize that they have a sleeping problem. In fact, sleep problems can go undiagnosed for years. This is a tremendous risk. Undiagnosed sleep disorders can have a serious effect on your health. Thankfully, because of things like Cox internet, more people are becoming aware of this issue. They are taking the necessary steps to test for sleeping disorders. And are seeking medical advice.
This blog will focus on two topics. First, it will highlight the medical causes of sleep disorders. Then discuss if oversleeping is harmful.
Numerous medical issues result in sleeping problems in adults. They could be something simple like heartburn or they could be more serious.
Table of Contents
What Kinds of Medical Issues result in Sleeping Disorders?
There are 3 different kinds of medical issues that can result in sleeping disorders:
- Chronic Physical Conditions
- Mental Health Disorders
- Neurological Disorders
#1. Chronic Physical Conditions
Chronic physical conditions (CPC) are medical issues that take time to develop. Once they have, they can’t be cured but managed with medication. There are different CPCs that can affect your sleep. Here are a few of them:
Heartburn
Is caused by the backup of stomach acids into the esophagus. Lying down in bed often makes it worse. There are simple measures you can take to reduce heartburn. By abstaining from heavy or fatty foods is the best way.
Heart Failure
Is the gradual decline in the pumping ability of the heart. Patients suffering from heart failure often wake up with shortness of breath. Men, in particular, can suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, due to heart failure. Additionally, people with coronary artery disease may suffer from chest pains. Irregular heartbeats or even a heart attack are common while they are sleeping.
Kidney Disease
People suffering from kidney diseases also suffer from insomnia. When kidneys can no longer function properly, waste products to stay in the bloodstream. This, in turn, causes insomnia. But, kidney dialysis or even a transplant is not enough to get rid of insomnia. For some reason, the patient continues to suffer from insomnia for months or even years.
Musculoskeletal Disorder
Better known as arthritis. It is a disease of the bones and joints. There are many forms of arthritis that are treated with steroids. But steroids are a leading case of insomnia. Even if steroids are not used, patients can still suffer from sleeping disorders. Because of the pain caused by arthritis, patients often awake from their sleep.
#2. Mental Health Disorders
Mental health disorders are increasingly common these days. Most people suffering from depression or even anxiety report trouble with sleeping. Let’s talk about some of the mental disorders that can cause sleeping disorders:
Schizophrenia
Is a mental health disorder. It causes abnormal behavior and speech. It also decreases the person’s ability to comprehend reality. During the early stages of an episode, the patient is likely to suffer from insomnia. But sleeping patterns, between episodes, are likely to improve.
Bipolar Disorder
Also known as manic-depressive illness. It can deeply affect a patient’s sleep. During a manic episode. A person can go for days without sleeping. This is of course followed by a ‘crash’. The person can sleep for a long period of time, sometimes even a couple of days.
Depression
Is the leading cause of insomnia in patients today. Studies suggest that 90 percent of patients suffering from depression are also insomniacs. This is why physicians consider depression when evaluating for insomnia.
#3. Neurological Disorders
Neurological disorders are diseases of the brain, nerves, and spine. Some neurological diseases also result in sleep disorders. Let’s look at the most common neurological diseases that can affect sleep:
Parkinson’s Disease
Directly affects the nerve cells of the brain. But only the nerve cells that control dopamine. The symptoms include tremors and rigidity of the muscles. Because of the severe tremors, most patients suffer from trouble falling asleep. They also suffer from disruptive sleep patterns.
Epilepsy
Is a condition in which a patient suffers from seizures. The disturbances that cause seizures are also responsible for reducing sleeping patterns. Additionally, epileptic people are twice as likely to suffer from insomnia as well.
The issues discussed above are the leading cause of sleeping disorders in patients. Now that we know the issues surrounding sleep disorders, let’s focus on oversleeping.
Is oversleeping harmful to your health?
Sleep is something most of us enjoy. But oversleeping can have harmful effects on your health. It has been linked to medical problems like heart disease and diabetes. Research shows that longer sleep habits can result in cognitive impairment. It also leads to depression, and even impaired fertility.
It is important to maintain sleeping habits recommended by physicians and experts. The amount of sleep you need varies significantly. It depends on your age, health, and lifestyle.
If you are facing trouble sleeping, there are medications available that can help. But like you would call Cox customer service number, to fix an issue with your internet service, be sure to consult an expert or physician rather than self-prescribing any form of medication. Consulting a doctor can help you diagnose and treat the root cause of your sleeping disorder.
