Intrinsic Insomnia: Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
This condition is mainly associated with old age but it can strike at any time.
RLS causes a tingling, itching or burning sensation and unexplained aches and pains in the lower limbs.
The problem ranges from being simply uncomfortable too painful.
Sleep is distracted because people often have a strong urge to move the legs to relieve the discomfort by stretching, rubbing the legs or getting up and pacing around.
It may be inherited, but hormonal changes during pregnancy will also worsened the symptoms.
Caffeine and alcohol aggravate the sensations, so should be avoided.
Massaging the legs, using a hot or cold pack, leg stretches, magnesium and iron supplements, and a warm bath can all help ease the symptoms.
A similar disorder impairs sleep, periodic limb movement in sleep (PLMS) is characterised by involuntary leg twitching or jerking movements during sleep that typically occur every 10 to 60 seconds, sometimes throughout the night.
Narcolepsy Most people think that a narcoleptic suffers from a condition that makes them fall asleep at random intervals, narcolepsy can describe cataplectic attacks where people have physical symptoms of sudden sleep, such as collapsing, but are actually wide awake.
An attack is often brought on by intense emotions, such as anger or sexual arousal.
One person in 1000 suffers from narcolepsy and there are various causes - it can be a result of a head injury, a virus or an autoimmune disease.
It can be accompanied by headaches, lethargy and poor concentration and, although hard to diagnose, it requires medical attention to find techniques that will help the sufferer and their loved ones to cope better.
A similar condition is known as hypersomnia, which is a long-term excessive daytime tiredness with no clear cause.
It is like narcolepsy sufferers go into long phases of deep sleep, which can last up to 2 hours at a time.
Occasional patches of hypersomnia can happen several times a day with periods without problems in between.
Excessive tiredness can also happen after periods of intense stress on the body or emotions; this is known as post traumatic tiredness.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) As the winter nights begin to draw in, many people find themselves sleeping longer, eating more and generally feeling low and lacking in motivation.
Many of us may recognise the symptoms, as it is a common complaint, although the extent of the problem can vary between every sufferer.
Treatment is usually in the form of light therapy, exposing the patient to a light source of about 2500 lux (lux is a measurement of light, average room lighting is about 250 to 500 lux).
The light mimics the effect of the sun, which is thought to control the production of melatonin, which makes us lethargic and depressed.
The best way to control this ourselves is to make the most of any available light by taking a daily walk outside.
Also make sure that your curtains and blinds are wide open when the sun is out.
Use brighter, daylight bulbs in your home to kickstart your daily cycle and get a sunlight alarm clock to help your body prepare the day.
Also consider changing your annual holiday; two weeks in the sun in winter could perk you up dramatically.
RLS causes a tingling, itching or burning sensation and unexplained aches and pains in the lower limbs.
The problem ranges from being simply uncomfortable too painful.
Sleep is distracted because people often have a strong urge to move the legs to relieve the discomfort by stretching, rubbing the legs or getting up and pacing around.
It may be inherited, but hormonal changes during pregnancy will also worsened the symptoms.
Caffeine and alcohol aggravate the sensations, so should be avoided.
Massaging the legs, using a hot or cold pack, leg stretches, magnesium and iron supplements, and a warm bath can all help ease the symptoms.
A similar disorder impairs sleep, periodic limb movement in sleep (PLMS) is characterised by involuntary leg twitching or jerking movements during sleep that typically occur every 10 to 60 seconds, sometimes throughout the night.
Narcolepsy Most people think that a narcoleptic suffers from a condition that makes them fall asleep at random intervals, narcolepsy can describe cataplectic attacks where people have physical symptoms of sudden sleep, such as collapsing, but are actually wide awake.
An attack is often brought on by intense emotions, such as anger or sexual arousal.
One person in 1000 suffers from narcolepsy and there are various causes - it can be a result of a head injury, a virus or an autoimmune disease.
It can be accompanied by headaches, lethargy and poor concentration and, although hard to diagnose, it requires medical attention to find techniques that will help the sufferer and their loved ones to cope better.
A similar condition is known as hypersomnia, which is a long-term excessive daytime tiredness with no clear cause.
It is like narcolepsy sufferers go into long phases of deep sleep, which can last up to 2 hours at a time.
Occasional patches of hypersomnia can happen several times a day with periods without problems in between.
Excessive tiredness can also happen after periods of intense stress on the body or emotions; this is known as post traumatic tiredness.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) As the winter nights begin to draw in, many people find themselves sleeping longer, eating more and generally feeling low and lacking in motivation.
Many of us may recognise the symptoms, as it is a common complaint, although the extent of the problem can vary between every sufferer.
Treatment is usually in the form of light therapy, exposing the patient to a light source of about 2500 lux (lux is a measurement of light, average room lighting is about 250 to 500 lux).
The light mimics the effect of the sun, which is thought to control the production of melatonin, which makes us lethargic and depressed.
The best way to control this ourselves is to make the most of any available light by taking a daily walk outside.
Also make sure that your curtains and blinds are wide open when the sun is out.
Use brighter, daylight bulbs in your home to kickstart your daily cycle and get a sunlight alarm clock to help your body prepare the day.
Also consider changing your annual holiday; two weeks in the sun in winter could perk you up dramatically.
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