Insomnia, Disease and Mental Disorders
Physical and Emotional Factors that Affect Sleep Patterns
May 6, 2009
Nearly everyone has or will suffer from short-term insomnia at some point in their lives. Whether it results from stress, jet lag, diet or a number of other factors, insomnia is a common problem that affects job performance, well-being and daily routine. Insomnia tends to increase with age, affecting about 40 percent of women and 30 percent of men. It is often the major disabling symptom of an underlying medical disorder.
Insomnia and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Problems in sleeping patterns occur in almost all people with mental disorders, including those with depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, cancer, and head injury. These sleeping problems may arise from changes in the brain regions and neurotransmitters that control sleep, or from the drugs used to control the symptoms of other disorders.
Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and Huntington's chorea are types of brain injuries called neurodegenerative diseases, which slowly destroy neurons, thereby disrupting the transmission of signals. Depending on which area of the brain is most affected by the disease, a person may have problems with dementia, mobility, memory, or other cognitive functions as the disease progresses.
Influences of Sleep-related Problems and Human Disorders
Sleep and sleep-related problems play a role in a large number of human disorders. For example, stroke and asthma attacks tend to occur more frequently during the night and early morning. This may be due to changes in hormones or heart rate while sleeping.
People with depression often wake up in the middle of the night or early in the morning and find themselves unable to get back to sleep. The amount of sleep a person gets strongly influences the symptoms of mental disorders. Extreme sleep deprivation can lead to hallucinations and paranoia in seemingly healthy people, while disrupted sleep can cause agitation and hyperactivity in people with manic depression.
Doctors Recommend Practising Good Sleep Habits to Manage Insomnia
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, at least 40 million Americans suffer from chronic, long-term sleep disorders each year, and an additional 20 million experience occasional sleeping problems. These disorders and the resulting sleep deprivation interfere with work, driving and social activities. They also account for an estimated $16 billion in medical costs each year, while the indirect costs due to lost productivity and other factors are probably much greater. Doctors have described more than 70 sleep disorders, most of which can be managed effectively once they are correctly diagnosed. The most common sleep disorders include insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome and narcolepsy.
For short-term insomnia, doctors may prescribe sleeping pills, but most sleeping pills will stop working after several weeks of nightly use. Continued, long-term use of sleeping pills can also interfere with good sleep. Mild insomnia often can be prevented or remedied by practicing good sleep habits, like setting a bedtime, exercising every day, and abstaining from falling asleep to the television.
Once a sleeping problem develops, it can add to a person's impairment and cause confusion, frustration or depression. Patients suffering from sleeping problems in combination with another disorder should consult a doctor to find ways to manage sleeping patterns. Better management of this problem will help improve health and quality of life.
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