Sleep Disorders
What can be done to prevent the condition?
Good sleep habits can prevent many cases from developing. Here are some recommendations from sleep experts.
Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and other drugs, especially after dinner.
Avoid excessive daytime naps. A person should take only one nap a day, if any, and the nap should be less than 1 hour.
Don't go to bed unless you are tired.
Have a comfortable, dark, quiet sleeping environment.
Use the bed only for sex and sleep.
Wake up at the same time every morning.
Treatment of any underlying psychiatric condition may prevent some sleep problems from occurring. Weight management may prevent some cases of sleep apnea. Some sleep disorders cannot be prevented.
What are the long-term effects of the condition?
Sleep deprivation can lower a person's quality of life and increase the risk for accidents. Up to 50% of the individuals with sleep apnea have high blood pressure. They are also at increased risk for the following disorders:
arrhythmia, or irregular heart rhythm, which may be fatal
cor pulmonale, or enlargement and weakening of the right side of the heart
heart attack
pulmonary hypertension, or high blood pressure in the lungs
stroke
What are the risks to others?
Sleep disorders are not contagious and pose no risk to others.
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