Effects Of Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders are the most common ailment of modern day. Hectic lifestyles disturb the sleeping patterns. Lack of proper and relaxing sleep leaves many harmful effects on the body and brain. Abnormal or disarrayed sleeping patterns, or sleep disorders keep us feeling tired and also deteriorates physical heath. Difficulty to sleep properly and follow same sleep pattern each day, moreover, affects mental health. Anomalous brain activity due to lack of sleep or sleep disorders may even cause seizures. The continuous lack of sound sleep is more harmful in an epileptic patient, where brain activity is already disrupted.

Seizures As A Side Effect Of Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders are notorious in effecting normal brain activity. As we know our brain functions with transmission of electric current from a nerve cell to another. This spread of electric discharge in brain may become anomalous. A cell may get discharged and subsequently another nerve cell may send a current in wrong or varied directions and other cells follow. This problem in the electrical control system of brain is what is known as a seizure. Occurrence of repeated seizures in a person suggests that he has a chronic disorder called epilepsy. In common man’s language a seizure is known as a fit or convulsion. Seizures are common in people with sleep disorders.

Stress Related To Sleep Is a Major Trigger For Initiating Seizures

 A seizure may occur in person of any age group and may be triggered due to multiple reasons. Low oxygen, diabetes, fever when spike, brain injury or surgery resulting in low blood flow to brain, shock, stress, poisoning or an infection may cause seizure. Lack of sleep and stress related to sleep disorders is a major trigger for initiating seizures, especially in sleep. Diabetes cause low or high sugar levels in blood and the abnormal levels of blood sugar result in disruptive sleep and prompt a seizure while sleeping. There may be neurological (low oxygen, injury, genetic defect, poisoning, tumor, surgery), cardiovascular (stroke, BP, uneven heartbeat), or psychological (hysteria, hyperventilation, mental sickness) causes of seizures.

Symptoms Of Seizures In Sleep

While a seizure occurs in sleep, one may or may not be aware of what’s happening to him. The person may fall or show frantic thrashing movements of limbs or simply lay inert and stare into space. The seizure can be partial or generalized. In a generalized seizure the person loses consciousness as his whole brain is affected by the seizure. Patients show muscle twitching or may become frigid. The breathing pattern becomes labored and consciousness is most often interrupted temporarily. Another symptom of night time seizure is incontinence. The patient may wake up multiple times and feel tired and fatigued the next day. He may feel confused or sleepy.

Cure Sleep Disorders To Control Seizures

Adequate sleep is must for persons with a history of seizures. However, sleeping pills must be avoided as they may induce sleep, they can also trigger seizures. You may feel an unusual taste in your mouth or an abnormal smell after you have had a seizure in sleep. Use a soft cushioning pillow. It may also cushion head from injury in case a seizure sets in at night. Never wear tight neckwear to sleep as this reduces blood supply to brain. Sleeping on side makes the tongue fall to mouth’s side at time of a seizure and allows normal breathing. If you wake up suddenly during night for no obvious reason and feel you had a seizure, try to relax and breathe slowly. Please see your doctor if the problem persists.

To learn more about the subject you may see our other articles about sleeping difficulties or sleep disorders.