Sleep Disorders In Children and Effective cures

Sleep Disorders
Common sleep disorders include insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy. At least 40 million Americans each year suffer from chronic sleep disorders. These lead to a poor phase of the economy of the country. Let us then take up the individual study of each of the four disorders mentioned above by beginning with Insomnia.
Insomnia

I have written a seperate article on this and refer the same.

Sleep Apnea
This disorder involves interrupted breathing during sleep and occurs due to fat deposition with ageing which further lets the windpipe collapse during breathing while sleeping. This is known as obstructive sleep apnea, and is usually associated with loud snoring. Sleep apnea also can occur if malfunctioning of neurons that control breathing malfunction during sleep takes place. Around18 million Americans have sleep apnea. Polysomnography is a test that records the patient’s brain waves, heartbeat, and breathing during an entire night. This therefore helps in the diagnosis of sleep apnea.
Weight loss procedures, restraining oneself from sleeping on the back and in severe cases surgery are effective measures in treating sleep apnea. Sedatives however are a definite no-no.
Restless Legs Syndrome
Symptoms of Restless legs syndrome (RLS) include:
• Crawling
• Prickling
• Tingling sensations in the legs and feet
• Urge to move them legs and feet for relief
is emerging at present as one of the most common sleep disorders, especially among older people.
RLS can often be treated with drugs that modify the neurotransmitter levels of dopamine. This suggests that dopamine abnormalities are the roots of this disorders’ symptoms.

Narcolepsy
estimated 250,000 people are affected by Narcolepsy in America alone. This disorder is symptomized by frequent "sleep attacks" at various times of the day. People with narcolepsy are often also affected by cataplexy (loss of muscle control during emotional situations), hallucinations, etc. These symptoms suggest features of REM sleep that occur during arousal. Hence a plausible conclusion can be drawn that suggests narcolepsy to be a disorder of sleep regulation.
Narcolepsy symptoms peak during adolescence. Genetics has a strong background in relation to this. However it is generally occasionally linked to brain damage. Stimulants and antidepressants on diagnosis of this syndrome can help improve the conditions.
A breakthrough research on the gene hypocretin receptor 2 designs a probable cure for this illness.

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