Month: June 2020

Restless legs syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes irritation in your legs, sometimes described as a burning or itching sensation, followed by an uncontrollable urge to move them. The symptoms tend to get worse once you lay down to rest, which may cause trouble sleeping.

Patients often find it hard to describe the symptoms. However, to be diagnosed, the following conditions must be met:

• An overwhelming urge to move the legs, along with an irritating sensation in legs
• The urge or sensation gets worse during sleep or in a rest position
• The urge or sensation wears off once you move (e.g. walk, stretch), for at least as long as the movement continues
• The urge or sensation gets worse in the evening or during the night, or only emerges at those hours

Although the sensation most often originates in the legs, the symptoms can also occur in other body parts, such as your arms.

Most people wait years to seek help regarding restless legs syndrome, as they have a hard time describing the symptoms and do not consider them to be of any concern. Sadly, the symptoms usually get more frequent and severe if left untreated. Most people seek help because their sleep suffers greatly. People with severe cases often sleep less than five hours a night, and their sleep quality is also poor. Excessive daytime sleepiness and mental problems, such as depression and anxiety, are also common complications. However, in some cases, the symptoms of restless legs syndrome are mild and will eventually go away. In that case, no treatment is needed.

Restless legs syndrome is a common disorder, affecting about 5-20% of all people, although women seem about twice as likely to develop the syndrome. It tends to first emerge around the age of 40. The syndrome is also highly common during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, but usually wears off once it has run its course. Restless legs syndrome is hereditary, although anyone can develop the disorder.

Several ways have proved to be successful when treating the disorder. Substances such as caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol should be avoided, as they can increase the symptoms. Exercising regularly and massaging the legs can also help. There is also a variety of medications available, but those should never be consumed without consulting a doctor first.

References and further information about sleep paralysis can be found on the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s website:
http://sleepeducation.org/essentials-in-sleep/restless-legs-syndrome
https://www.laeknabladid.is/tolublod/2012/01/nr/4416
https://doktor.frettabladid.is/grein/fotaoeird

Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder resulting in excessive sleepiness and, in the worst cases, cataplexy. The symptoms differ between individuals but include sleep hallucinations, sleep paralysis, and disturbed sleep.

People with narcolepsy are often unable to sleep or stay awake for more than a few hours at a time. An overwhelming urge to sleep causes them to fall asleep, repeatedly during the day, often in unfortunate situations. These sleep attacks can last for 5-15 seconds or appear in a state of fatigue for up to one hour. After those sleep attacks, the subject tends to feel refreshed and energetic. However, this will only last a short while, as the subject will soon feel the urge to sleep settle in again, repeating the pattern.

There are two types of narcolepsy: narcolepsy with cataplexy and narcolepsy without cataplexy. Cataplexy is a condition where you suddenly lose control of your muscles, even though you are fully awake and conscious, resulting in a temporary state of paralysis. These episodes can last up to two minutes and are usually triggered by strong emotions, such as laughter, surprise, or joy. Therefore, cataplexy can have a significant impact on daily life and be difficult to cope with emotionally.

Narcolepsy with cataplexy is caused by a lack of hypocretin in the brain. Hypocretin plays a crucial role when it comes to our sleeping habits and is an important chemical for regulating wakefulness. Simply put, hypocretin tells us to stay awake. Therefore, the loss of hypocretin makes it hard, and sometimes impossible, for a person to stay awake. Even though the symptoms are mostly the same, the causes of narcolepsy without cataplexy are still unknown.

Narcolepsy can appear at any age, although it is most common to first occur in the teen years. It is believed that one in 2000 people have narcolepsy. The disorder has been associated with certain genes and is, therefore, hereditary in some way.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for narcolepsy. However, some treatments have shown good results and can repress the symptoms.

References and further information can be found on the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s website:
http://sleepeducation.org/essentials-in-sleep/narcolepsy

Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder, defined as the inability to get enough sleep, even though the opportunity is there. The symptoms vary between individuals and can include trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or a tendency to wake up too early in the morning.

The main symptoms include excess fatigue, lack of concentration, daytime sleepiness, irritability, lack of energy, memory problems, and frustration about not getting enough sleep.

Insomnia can affect nearly all aspects of your life, both during sleep and while you are awake. According to studies, insomnia impairs work performance and decision making, as well as putting a strain on relationships and social life. Over time, insomnia will leave you both mentally and physically exhausted.

A fairly large number of people claim to suffer from insomnia. The disorder can affect anyone, although it is most common among women and the elderly. Mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, also seem to contribute greatly to the development of this sleep disorder. Most people have trouble sleeping at some point in their life, but to be diagnosed with insomnia the symptoms must be consistent for some time.

There are two types of insomnia: short-time insomnia and chronic insomnia. Short-time insomnia lasts for up to three months and affects about 15-20% of people. Chronic insomnia occurs at least three times a week for a minimum of three months. It is thought to affect about 10% of people. Note that insomnia is not the same as simply getting insufficient sleep, which occurs when you voluntarily, but unintentionally, deprive yourself of the opportunity to sleep.

There are several ways to treat insomnia, including taking medications, keeping a consistent sleep schedule, and undergoing cognitive behavioral therapy.

If you think you suffer from insomnia, you should see a doctor.

References and further information can be found on the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s website:
http://sleepeducation.org/essentials-in-sleep/insomnia

(https://www.heilsugaeslan.is/um-hh/frettasafn/stok-frett/2019/02/07/Svefnleysi/)