Youll learn what restless sleep looks like, why its happening, and what to do next.
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Symptoms
A night or two of poor sleep isnt anything to worry about.
However, if sleep issues become chronic, its good to take note.
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Sleep problems can lead to other health issues over time.
These include:
Insomnia
People withinsomniaexperience restless sleep as a symptom.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apneais a sleeping disorder characterized by breathing challenges.
A person with sleep apnea can stop breathing during sleep, causing gasping for air or loud snoring sounds.
This stop-and-start flow of breathing disrupts the flow of deep sleep.
Daytime sleepiness is another associated symptom.
Untreated sleep apnea leads to severe health complications, including the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsyis a neurological disorder affecting the brains chemical signaling and control of wakefulness and sleepiness.
People with narcolepsy experience many symptoms, including restless nighttime sleep with many awakenings.
What Medications Can Cause Restless Sleep?
Several methods are available.
Its also shown to be effective when delivered remotely via teletherapy.
Sleep Hygiene
Practicing proper sleep hygiene is always recommended to have a restful sleep.
Good sleep hygiene habits should include:
Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Restless Sleep?
A healthcare provider can determine the underlying cause of restless sleep in several ways.
A medical history, report of symptoms, review of medications, and physical examination is the first step.
These may be enough to diagnose the cause.
Summary
Restless sleep is when you find falling and staying asleep challenging.
You may toss and turn or struggle with some sleep disorder that has other symptoms.
Treatment involves cognitive behavioral therapy and sleep hygiene changes and may also include sleep medications.
See a healthcare provider to discuss your symptoms and medical history.
They can then recommend further testing, if needed, and possible treatment and lifestyle changes.
American Sleep Apnea Association.The state of sleep health in America in 2022.
Roth T.Insomnia: definition, prevalence, etiology, and consequences.J Clin Sleep Med.
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2015;56(6):317-323. doi:10.11622/smedj.2015089
Johns Hopkins Medicine.The dangers of uncontrolled sleep apnea.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Restless legs syndrome fact sheet.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Narcolepsy fact sheet.
National Jewish Health.Medicines that can cause insomnia.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sleep and chronic disease.
