Sleep is crucial in having a healthy lifestyle, just like eating, exercising, and breathing are. The quality of sleep matters as much as the number of hours does. Sleep deprivation already causes impairment, so having sleep disorders only causes and worsens other medical conditions.

Getting adequate sleep is necessary for maintaining optimal health, but adults often ignore this fact. Work and play are frequently prioritized over sleep, which take their toll in the long run.

Regularly having sleeping difficulties is a cause for concern and should already justify a visit to the doctor. The sooner you get diagnosed and treated, the sooner you’ll have better sleep quality. They must not be left unaddressed.

  1.     Insomnia Is a Risk Factor for Mental Health Disorders

Insomnia is a condition in which you have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, and you’re unable to get back to sleep. It may last for days, weeks, or even months. Sleepless nights are bad for the health and the body’s performance during the day.

Stress, constant travel, generally poor sleeping habits, and medical conditions cause insomnia. Because of the loss, it can lead to mental health disorders like anxiety and depression.

Avoiding insomnia involves making a good sleep environment and sticking to a healthy lifestyle. The individual must stay active and steer clear of vices like smoking and drinking. It also helps to have a bedtime ritual, like taking a shower before bed or reading a book.

  1.     Sleep Apnea Increases the Risk of Hypertension

When a person snores loudly, gasps for air, and stops breathing while asleep, they may have sleep apnea. The disorder occurs when throat muscles relax and when the brain fails to send proper signals concerning your breathing.

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Having obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of abnormal heartbeats, stroke, and recurrent heart attacks. Having low blood-oxygen levels, which occurs during sleep apnea, increases blood pressure. Multiple episodes of sudden oxygen level drops may result in sudden death.

For people struggling with this sleep disorder, specialists recommend the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines. CPAP machines help keep the airway open during sleep. These machines are useful in providing pressured air, which allows individuals to breathe comfortably.

  1.     Narcolepsy Intensifies the Risk of Physical Harm

Overwhelming daytime drowsiness is commonly characterized as narcolepsy. Narcoleptics have sudden attacks of sleep and find it difficult to stay awake no matter what. Because they suddenly fall asleep at random times, the daily routine is constantly interrupted.

The risk for narcolepsy is higher if it runs in the family, and there is no cure. Narcoleptics can be physically harmed in case they fall asleep while driving, walking, or preparing food. Common activities automatically become dangerous because consciousness slips.

The extent of narcolepsy is widely misunderstood. People view diagnosed persons as lazy, unprofessional, and rude, without even knowing the nature of the disorder. Medications and certain lifestyle changes help manage the disorder, but it doesn’t really go away.

  1.     Sleep Paralysis Can Cause Anxiety

From the name itself, sleep paralysis happens when an individual wakes up unable to move or speak. It is a terrifying experience because a person is between being asleep and being awake. They are conscious and fully aware of everything, but they cannot physically move.

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Sleep paralysis isn’t life-threatening, but it may cause anxiety to those who experienced it more than once. They may willingly prevent themselves from falling asleep because they’re afraid that something will happen to them. Anxiety can also bring about sleep paralysis itself, but stress is more commonly the attributed cause.

Some people have hallucinations (e.g., scary figures that try to cause harm) during paralysis. The period lasts for seconds or a few minutes, but it may feel much longer than that. The body either falls back to sleep fully or wakes up.

Practice Good Bedtime Habits

Even if you are not diagnosed with any sleep disorder, it is still important to have good sleep hygiene. Stick to a regular bedtime every night, and avoid using electronic devices as much as possible. Do not consume caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime to have a better quality of sleep.