SLEEP PROBLEMS

We have all experienced sleep problems at some point in our lives. We have had trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up, or we have forced ourselves to sleep poorly because we have to work hard, but sleep deprivation can bring serious problems. For example, people who don't get enough sleep are more irritable and fail tests of attention and memory. Insomnia can cause minor annoyances in everyday life, but lack of sleep for airline pilots, firefighters, police or highway drivers can cause much more serious problems. In addition, insomnia can increase the risk of obesity. When we are sleep deprived, our bodies secrete more cortisol. Cortisol is the hormone that tells our body to produce more fat. In addition, the hormone that gives the feeling of hunger is secreted more when you are sleepless. Thus, we both eat more food and turn more of what we eat into fat. This can cause weight gain.

How much sleep is enough sleep? This question is a difficult one to answer. Most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep, but the exact duration varies from person to person. For example, babies need much more sleep, while older people usually sleep less than 7-8 hours and do not experience serious distress.

People who have persistent problems falling asleep or staying asleep have a more serious sleep disorder called ‘’Insomnia’’. On the other hand, there are many sleep aids, but taking them for a long time can cause addiction and immunity. For this reason, psychological suggestions are generally used in the treatment of insomnia. Sometimes, some lifestyle changes may be required. For example, doing sports regularly or relaxing for a while before going to bed. These can be good for insomnia patients.

At the other end of the scale is "Narcolepsy". It is a chronic disorder that manifests itself with excessive sleepiness, which is usually seen in the form of sleep attacks or short sleep periods during the day. People with narcolepsy often have a sudden and intense urge to sleep. Sometimes they go directly to RAM (the part where rapid eye movements and dreams are seen) sleep. These sleep attacks last up to 5 minutes and can begin at any time. Although the cause of narcolepsy is still being investigated, there is evidence that its origin is genetic.

A more common sleep disorder is "Sleep Apnea". People with difficulty sleep apnea are not aware of this problem. In sleep apnea, the sleeping person stops breathing at intervals of 10 seconds or more, and then the body realizes that it is not getting enough oxygen. The person wakes up and stays awake for as long as they can take a deep breath and goes back to sleep without realizing what has happened. This can be repeated many times a night. Since the person is constantly going back and forth between sleep and wakefulness, he cannot benefit from the deep stages of sleep sufficiently. Snoring can be a symptom of sleep apnea. If you wake up tired in the morning even though you think you sleep all night if you are said to snore, you may have sleep apnea, or being overweight and using alcohol may increase the likelihood of developing sleep apnea. On the other hand, sleep apnea can be easily treated.

The last sleep problem we will talk about is Sleepwalking and Sleep Talking. Like narcolepsy, these are largely due to genetic causes. It's harmless unless you're going somewhere dangerous or revealing some dark secret. In sleepwalking, people have poor coordination, but they manage not to hit objects and do not remember walking in their sleep when they wake up. Sleepwalking and talking during sleep are more common in children.