These sleep problems and disorders may be more serious, and more common, than we think.
While sleep is a means to relax and refresh the body and mind,
it is not so for some people. Sleep disorders are not unheard of, and are becoming more and more common as our lifestyles become more active and more stressful. There are even some sleep problems that may seem bizarre but are very much real.
Here are seven bizarre sleep problems that make it hard for some people to sleep and lead more fresh and carefree days.
Exploding Head Syndrome: The exploding head syndrome causes a person to experience a loud explosive noise inside his or her own head. It could be the sound of an explosion, or ocean waves crashing against rocks, a loud bang, or a loud voice. The exploding sound is usually without pain and is not thought to be dangerous. The experience can be distressing to some people, though, and can instill a sense of fear and anxiety in them.
Hypnic Jerk or Hypnagogic Jerk: The hypnic jerk is not really a sleep disorder. But in the extreme it can be considered as a disorder called the periodic limb movement. The hypnic jerk is an involuntary movement of the body, experienced when a person feels a falling sensation or some kind of an electric shock. This usually happens to people who are exhausted and those who are deprived of sleep and is trying not to sleep.
Night Eating Syndrome (NES): NES is more of an eating disorder. But it is confused sometimes with a sleep-related eating disorder, wherein a person is not aware that he or she has eaten while asleep, that it is also considered as a sleeping disorder. With this syndrome, a person is usually unaware of his or her nocturnal need to eat. People who suffer from NES also usually experience depression and low self-esteem.
Bruxism: Bruxism is characterized as the grinding of the teeth, sometimes with the clenching of the jaw. This is usually mild enough not to cause any major concerns. But when it becomes a nocturnal activity for a person, than it becomes a problem. Bruxism shortens the grounded teeth, and eventually it will lead to more serious health issues like myofacial muscle pain and constant headaches. Many people might not think so but bruxism is actually one of the most common sleep disorders.
Somniloquy or Sleep-talking: Talking when asleep is a kind of parasomnia medically referred to as somniloquy. Sleep-talking is not dangerous. But it might be a symptom of a more serious sleep disorder and that is something that a person who sleep-talks should look determine.
Nocturia: Nocturia, or nycturia, is characterized by the need to get up at night to urinate. This obviously interrupts sleep. It may be just a result from drinking too much liquid before sleeping but it could also be a symptom for a bigger and more serious sleep disorder. It could also be a sign of diabetes.
Restless Legs Syndrome or RLS: Restless Legs Syndrome is the need to move the body, usually the legs, because of an uncomfortable feeling, like a burning or itching feeling in the muscles. Moving the legs will cause temporary relief from these sensations but they may return if the person stops moving his or her legs.
These disorders or problems may seem bizarre, but they are experienced by more people than we can imagine. These are actually common sleep problems, and they should not be taken lightly especially if a person experiences it always when sleeping or trying to sleep.
