Wednesday, July 30, 2014

5 Common Sleep Disorders: Disturbing or Dangerous?

Why do some people grind their teeth at night while others don't? Researchers aren't sure.

They used to think misaligned teeth was the cause, but that has been disproven, Hirshkowitz says.

However, many people with bruxism have tense, type-A personalities, or chronic stress in their lives, he adds.

What you can do about it: If you think you're grinding due to stress, relax before sleep. Try deep breathing, meditation, a warm bath, or listening to calming sounds or music as you drift off.

Also, if you're clenching your teeth during the day, breaking that habit sometimes minimizes or eliminates night grinding.

But if teeth are already showing signs of wear and tear, see your dentist.

Oral appliances are available, including mouth guards and nocturnal bite plates (also called bite splints). Some splints are designed to train your jaw into a more relaxed position, which can break the habit altogether.

If grinding is a symptom of sleep apnea, treating that disorder can help you sleep better and typically stops the grinding too.

For more on bruxism, read How to Stop Clenching Your Teeth ^[1].

3. Restless Limbs
This bodily behavior, called periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), mostly affects legs but sometimes arms too.

It's often confused with restless leg syndrome (RLS) – that irritating, tingling feeling that starts in the legs as you're trying to fall asleep and makes you need to move around. Many people have both conditions.

"There's a common overlap," Dr. Gromer says. "Patients don't often come in to be treated for PLMD, since it usually doesn't disturb them, but they'll want treatment for RLS."