7 Sleep Habits That Could Reveal Disturbing Health Issues
Insomnia
Is sleep eluding you? You’re always tossing and turning in bed without getting enough shut-eye? You might suffer from insomnia. There are two types of insomnia: primary, which doesn’t have any underlying cause and secondary which is the symptom of another health problem.
Secondary or comorbid insomnia can be the side effects of medication, depression, chronic pain, Parkinson’s, and various other health conditions. If These Expert-Approved Techniques to fall asleep in seconds don’t work, you might want to schedule an appointment with your doctor. Speaking of which, you might want to know more about these 8 Things You Should Never Do Before a Doctor’s Appointment.
Hypersomnia
In contrast to insomnia, hypersomnia refers to excessive tiredness and sleepiness during the day. According to the National Sleep Foundation, about 40 percent of people experience hypersomnia symptoms on occasion. Excessive daytime fatigue and somnolence can be a sign of depression and chronic illnesses, but it can also be caused by drug withdrawal or a head injury. If no amount of coffee can keep you up, you might want to pay your GP a visit.
Hypersomnia can also be genetic, so you might want to ask your parents about their sleeping habits. Also, check out these 8 Surprising Traits You Never Knew They Could Be Hereditary.
Chronic nightmares
Having a nightmare every once in a while is no reason for you to get concerned. In fact, one out of every two adults has nightmares now and then. You might have experienced a stressful situation that, in turn, triggered a bad dream.
On the other hand, having regular bad dreams to the extent that they disrupt your day-to-day activities, could indicate that you’re suffering from a nightmare disorder. Yes, that’s a thing. Nightmare disorders are often triggered by traumas, medication or substance withdrawals. Sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome (caused by iron, vitamin B12, or folate deficiencies), can also cause nightmares. It’s a vicious cycle!
