Disorders
Sleep
What is a sleep disorder?
An occasional poor night sleep is not uncommon in the population. However repetitive poor sleep can have negative effects on your health and quality of life. Sleep disorders can affect your ability to function day to day, and is the cause of more road traffic accidents than drink drivers. The most common symptoms of an underlying sleep disorder are excessive daytime sleepiness, which means having the urge to falling asleep at inappropriate times, excessive snoring, difficulty falling or maintaining sleep, and abnormal behaviour or movements during the night. There are over 100 classified sleep disorders based on the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD3).
Insomnia
The most common sleep disorder. Described as the inability of getting to sleep or staying asleep.
Sleep Apnoea
Also common in the population. Described as repeated cessation of breathing throughout the night and normally associated with excessive daytime sleepiness. Snoring is a strong indication of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA).
Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS)
Described as obesity related changes in the respiratory system causing a reduction in breathing (hypoventilation) at night, which then leads to a rise in arterial carbon dioxide which can have adverse effects. 70% of patients have accompanying severe OSA. Common symptoms are morning headaches.
Narcolepsy
An autoimmune disorder which results in excessive tiredness. It is associated with awakening hallucinations and sleep paralysis. 75% of people with Narcolepsy will have Cataplexy in which a strong emotion (normally laughter) can cause someone to collapse due to sudden muscular weakness.
Circadian Rhythm Disorder
This causes sleep timing misalignment. Most commonly experienced by shift workers and also caused by jet lag when crossing different time zones.
How do I know if I have a Sleep Disorder?
Although Sleep is relativity new to the field of Medicine, more and more Doctors are becoming increasingly aware of the impact that poor sleep can have on your health.
A sleep study will be able to tell you whether or not you have a sleep disorder. To find out more, get in touch and speak with us.
EEG
What is Epilepsy?
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Epilepsy is a condition whereby patients experience recurrent seizures. This can occur in individuals of all age groups. However, we may all experience a single seizure in a lifetime. Some other events may resemble epileptic seizures, such as blackouts from low blood sugar or low blood pressure.
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It is important for individuals with epilepsy to work closely with healthcare professionals, follow prescribed investigations and treatments, and adopt lifestyle strategies to help minimize triggers and manage their condition effectively.
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How do I know I have epilepsy?
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Do you blackout frequently or you had convulsions?
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Do you have pauses in your thinking?
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Do you go ‘absent’? Do people tell you go absent?
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Do you experience frequent Deja vus?
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Do you have uncontrolled movements of your limbs in the day or night?
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