Sleep is one of the most basic necessities for a human being. Your body and mind need rest after going through the trials of a regular day. If you suffer from a sleep disorder, it will have an adverse effect on your daily routine and the quality of work you perform on a regular basis. Sleep disorders are of different kinds and you must consult a doctor if you notice any symptoms.

Symptoms of sleep disorder

Restless legs syndrome

Restless legs syndrome, or RLS, is a kind of condition in which you feel an uncomfortable sensation in your legs. That, in turn, creates an irrepressible urge to shake them. Usually, it happens in the night when you are lying on the bed or trying to sleep. This condition is also referred to as Willis-Ekbom disease and affects people belonging to different age groups.

Sleep apnea

When you find it difficult to sleep because of irregularities in your breathing process, it indicates that you might be suffering from sleep apnea. Loud snoring and a sense of feeling tired even after sleeping for a good number of hours are symptoms that further establish a sleep disorder.

Hypersomnia

This is a condition in which you feel drowsy and struggle to keep your body and mind alert during the day. While it is quite normal to feel so late in the night, it is not normal if you feel sleepy during the day, despite having slept well the previous night. People who suffer from this condition can put themselves to sleep at any given point during the day.

How to prevent a sleep disorder

Switch to a healthy diet

One of the biggest causes of sleep disorder is following an unhealthy diet. Consuming fried and oily food and alcoholic substances have a bad impact on your health and affect your sleep cycle adversely. Also, caffeine content stays in your body for as long as 24 hours. If you consume it in large quantities, you may find it increasingly harder to fall asleep.

Cut down on stress

All of us go through stress in our lives, but it is important to make sure that it does not reach a level where it starts affecting your sleep. Working out regularly can help in reducing stress considerably. There are also different kinds of therapies that have proved to be very effective when it comes to relaxing one’s body and mind, like meditation.

Do not nap too much

A lot of people believe napping is a good way to make up for lost sleep. However, napping too many times in a day and at irregular hours can result in a sleep disorder when you retire for sleep at night. Napping for a short period of time is not a bad idea, but you must fix a time for the same and follow it strictly.

If you want to lead a healthy and productive life, it is important to sleep well. When you have trouble getting a good night’s sleep, you need to take the onus of looking after your health properly. If the problem persists even after adopting preventive measures, we recommend that you consult a doctor.