Restless legs syndrome is a sleep disorder in which a person experiences unpleasant sensations in the legs. People who have this disorder often describe the sensations as creeping, crawling, tingling, pulling, or painful feelings in the calves, although the entire leg can be affected. These sensations can occur when the person lies down or sits for long periods, such as in bed, at a desk, or riding in a car. Moving, rubbing, or massaging the legs brings relief, at least briefly. People with restless legs syndrome find it difficult to relax and fall asleep, often sleeping best during the morning hours. A lack of sufficient sleep at night causes daytime drowsiness and affects performance at home and at work. Many people with restless legs syndrome have periodic limb movement, which is characterized by involuntary jerking or bending leg movements that occur every 10 to 60 seconds during sleep.
Showing posts with label Sleep Disorders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sleep Disorders. Show all posts
By GENEVRA PITTMAN, MB.COM.PH - NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Older women who have sleep apnea may be more likely to develop memory problems and dementia, according to a new study.
It's not clear yet whether treating the sleep apnea can help prevent that memory decline -- but researchers say future studies should address that question.
People who have narcolepsy experience such overwhelming daytime sleepiness— even after adequate sleep at night—that they become drowsy or fall asleep at inappropriate times and places during the day. Such “sleep attacks” can occur repeatedly during a given day and may come on without warning. Another classic symptom of narcolepsy is cataplexy (sudden episodes of loss of muscle function that cause the person to collapse suddenly or his or her neck to go limp). Sleep paralysis often occurs, preventing the affected person from moving while falling asleep or waking up. Some people also have vivid hallucinations while falling asleep. Such symptoms can seriously disrupt the person’s life and limit his or her activities.
Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening breathing disorder that is characterized by brief, involuntary interruptions of breathing during sleep. There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive and central. Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type, occurs when air cannot flow into or out of the person’s nose or mouth because of an obstruction caused by a relaxed and sagging tongue or a sagging uvula (the small piece of tissue that hangs from the center of the back of the throat) during sleep. Central sleep apnea, which is less common, occurs when the brain fails to send the proper signals to the muscles used in breathing to continue regular inhalation and exhalation during sleep.
The amount of sleep needed each night varies from person to person, but most healthy men need 8 to 81⁄2 hours of sleep per night to be fully alert during the day. If a man does not get enough sleep—even for one night—he may experience drowsiness that disrupts his daily routine.
