Sleep is essential for your physical health, mental clarity, and overall well-being. But for many people, getting a good night’s sleep is challenging. If you frequently struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up feeling groggy and unrefreshed, you may have a sleep disorder.
Sleep issues and disorders are surprisingly common, affecting millions of people globally. They can affect people of any age, and often go undiagnosed for extended periods of time.
Here, we explore some key signs that could indicate you should seek professional help for your sleeping difficulties.
Difficulty falling, or staying, asleep
If you spend more than half an hour trying to fall asleep most nights, or you wake up frequently and struggle to fall back to sleep, you could be experiencing insomnia. Chronic insomnia is more than just the occasional bad night – often stemming from stress, anxiety, poor sleep habits, or underlying health issues.
It’s important to evaluate your sleep routine if you are finding yourself experiencing poor sleep quality consistently, especially if you’re also feeling fatigued or foggy throughout the day. Even if you can’t remember how many times you woke up, this is a red flag that you didn’t enjoy a full, restful night’s sleep. Excessive daytime sleepiness could also indicate other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or narcolepsy.
Struggling to get comfortable or feeling a strong urge to move your legs
An irresistible, uncomfortable urge to move your legs, especially when resting or trying to fall asleep, can be a symptom of restless legs syndrome (RLS). The sensations are often described as crawling, tingling, or aching, and this can severely impact your sleep quality.
At present, there is no definitive known cause for RLS, but potential suspects include iron deficiency, kidney disease, diabetes, nerve damage, and pregnancy. If you are frequently experiencing symptoms of RLS, be sure to book an appointment with your GP to check your bloodwork and rule out any underlying health issues.
Loud snoring or gasping for air while asleep
Occasionally snoring is normal, and can often be remedied by simply changing your sleeping position. But loud, chronic snoring – especially when accompanied by choking or gasping for air – may point to obstructive sleep apnea.
This disorder causes your breathing to repeatedly stop and start as you sleep, which reduces oxygen flow and fragments your rest. Other signs of sleep apnea include waking with a headache, dry mouth, or sore throat, which can be caused by disrupted airflow during sleep. You may not be aware of breathing interruptions as you sleep, so be sure to ask your partner or consult a sleep specialist if you notice these symptoms.
Irregular sleep-wake patterns
Our circadian rhythm is naturally set by the rising and setting of the sun, as daylight encourages hormone production in our brains which signal us to be awake, and darkness prompts us to produce melatonin and begin to prepare for sleep. If your sleep schedule is erratic, and doesn’t align with normal sleep patterns, you could have a circadian rhythm disorder.
This is common in shift workers, students, and people with delayed sleep phase disorder. If your job or study responsibilities keep you up very late and you find yourself sleeping well into the afternoon, you may be struggling to get enough good quality sleep.
Mood changes and memory issues
Ever noticed how your mood changes after a bad night’s sleep? High quality sleep is essential for optimal cognitive ability, and sleep deprivation can quickly cause us to become irritable and have difficulty concentrating. Long-term, chronic sleep deprivation can also lead to anxiety, depression, and memory issues.
If your emotional or cognitive performance is consistently declining, without another clear cause, a sleep disorder may be playing a role.
What to do if you are struggling
Do these signs and symptoms sound familiar? If so, don’t ignore them. Talking to your doctor or a sleep specialist is essential to get your sleep back on track and start feeling better. Remember, sleep disorders aren’t just about feeling tired – they could be a symptom of serious health issues including heart issues, diabetes, and impaired immune function.
Recognizing the signs early is the first step towards reclaiming restful sleep and restoring your energy – so you can do all the things you want, and need, to do when you’re awake.
Author bio: Kai Heart
As a person who struggles with sleep apnea himself, Kai is well aware of the toll a sleep disorder can take on mental and physical health. He shares awareness around this, and other, sleep issues to help others find solutions and boost their well being.
