Know Why You Can't Get a Good Night's Sleep
Approximately 1/3 of a person's life is spent sleeping. Repeated interference with the natural sleep process can become a distressing, 24-hour problem, often seriously impairing the ability to work and enjoy life.

An occasional sleep problem is usually nothing to worry about. Periodically, everyone experiences a poor night of sleep due to anxiety, having too much to eat or drink, an injury or other short-term reasons.

Medical research has identified more than 50 disorders that cause difficulty in falling asleep, staying asleep or remaining awake during normal waking hours. Fortunately, most sleep disorders are treatable after an accurate diagnosis. Sleep is a complex process even for those with no sleep disorder. There are multiple stages and cycles, such as periods of deep sleep and light sleep, dream sleep and non-dream sleep.

Body functions undergo frequent and dramatic changes throughout sleep. The brain is extremely active, blood pressure rises and falls, and heart rhythm and breathing increase and decrease. The same variable activity takes place in vital functions throughout the body.

Physicians at Carolinas Sleep Services identify sleep problems and their causes by carefully analyzing a patient's physiological functions during sleep. With sophisticated instrumentation, every second of a patient's sleep patterns and characteristics are monitored, measured and recorded.

Sleep Apnea - Loud Snoring Is A Major Clue
People with sleep apnea experience frequent stoppages in breathing during sleep. Apnea episodes can last from 10 seconds to more than a minute. Because of this disruptive breathing, a person can awaken hundreds of times a night without realizing it. As a result, the person is extremely sleepy during the day without knowing why.

Very heavy snoring and daytime sleepiness are common symptoms of sleep apnea. Other symptoms include restless sleep, morning headaches, heavy sweating and frequent nighttime urination.

When untreated, sleep apnea can lead to serious health problems. It has been associated with high blood pressure, chronic heart strain and failure, stroke, and even sudden death.

Chronic Insomnia - Sleeping Pills Aren't the Answer
The inability to fall asleep, and stay asleep, is the most common of all sleep problems. It is often a symptom of a wide variety of other physical and/or psychological problems. And often, it is simply a result of lifestyle habits.

Sleeping pills are usually not the answer for chronic insomnia. They can be useful for temporary problems but they lose their effectiveness after a short period of time.

A detailed discussion of your insomniac difficulties often permits your sleep physician to make alternative treatment suggestions including relaxation and behavioral methods.

Narcolepsy - Sudden Daytime "Sleep Attacks"
Narcolepsy causes excessive daytime sleepiness regardless of the amount of sleep obtained at night. Deep, irresistible "sleep attacks" can occur during any daytime activity. They usually last less than 30 minutes but can extend to hours if the person is in a comfortable position when they occur.

Another complication may involve muscular weakness or paralysis triggered by emotional arousal, such as anger or amusement. This condition can range in severity from a brief sensation of weakness to total physical collapse lasting several minutes.

Narcoleptics also can experience sleep paralysis and terrifying dreams or hallucinations just before falling asleep or upon awakening.

Nocturnal Myoclonus - Frequent Leg Movements
With nocturnal myoclonus, a person experiences leg twitches that are often violent and are repeated every 20 to 40 seconds. These twitching episodes can last from minutes to hours and alternate with normal sleep.

People with this condition are rarely aware of their nightly leg movements. They complain of fragmented, unrefreshing sleep and are excessively drowsy during the day.

Restless Legs Syndrome
Unlike nocturnal myoclonus, restless legs syndrome occurs while a person is relaxing but still awake. Continuous uncomfortable sensations are felt inside the legs and occasionally other places. These sensations can only be eased by moving the legs vigorously. Often, the person must get up and walk to obtain relief.

Although restless legs syndrome and nocturnal myoclonus are separate disorders, people are often afflicted by both at the same time.

Nightmares and Night Terrors
Nightmares are frightening dream experiences which can be recalled vividly upon awakening. Night terrors occur in a different state of sleep than nightmares. They are usually accompanied by a piercing scream. The person may suddenly sit up with open eyes and a look of terror. However, the individual rarely recalls the experience or details of the dream.