Sleep disorders – they are really common and they can affect your sleep schedule badly if you don’t manage them. However, they are rarely fatal. Here are some of the most dangerous sleep disorders in no specific order. If you notice any symptoms, you should not delay your appointment to a sleep doctor Clarksburg.

Insomnia

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that wills you to stay up all night, even if you haven’t napped for the entire day. Even though insomnia is not life-threatening by any means, it is still a very dangerous disorder, because it can really alter your sleeping schedule and if you don’t sleep well at night then you will not be able to function throughout the day either.

Insomnia can make your brain foggy, make you lose focus and it is generally really bad for your body if you’re not well rested. It can lead to other mental and psychological disorders like anxiety, depression, irritability, mood swings, fatigue, and the list goes on. This is bad and these things combined can cause you to lose control of your life and you can spiral down.

This common sleep disorder can also affect your normal life activities because if you’re not well rested, then you will be tired throughout the day and you won’t be able to get anything done. You will also fall asleep on multiple occasions and that’s not good at all. This is why managing insomnia is important.

One of the scariest things about insomnia is the fact that it doesn’t have a definitive cause, which is very frustrating because you can’t seem to find the problem and that can put you through the loop.

Night Terrors

Sometimes, night terrors and dreams are terms that are interconnected with each other but that’s not the case. Night terrors are way more intense than dreams and it can cause you to be frightened for the rest of the night if you do wake up from it.

As far as dreams are concerned, you can remember them vaguely at times. But the same can’t be said for night terrors. It is a very frightening transition from one sleep cycle to another and it can happen randomly and for several nights in a row as well. Diagnosis and a proper treatment is necessary for this condition.

Sleep Paralysis

Sleep paralysis is a type of sleep disorder in which you suddenly wake up, but are unable to move your limbs or the thorax. You want to get up, but you feel like you’re being weighed down by something and you are only able to move your eyes and tilt your head to some degree.

In sleep paralysis, you can also experience hallucinations and vivid dreams and you can also experience night terrors, which can lead to you waking up scared and confused. This is a very frightening disorder because there’s no explanation for your actions. Your body just feels numb and totally out of your control.

Kleine-Levin Syndrome

Kleine-Levin Syndrome (KLS) is also known as sleeping beauty syndrome. It is the condition in which a person can sleep throughout the day. Sleeping for 23 hours a day for several days a week on and on is not something normal and it can be frightening.

KLS is a very random disorder and it can occur in spurs throughout the years. It can lead to hallucinations, overeating, and childish behavior, which is unbelievable.

Sleep Hallucinations

You can hallucinate when you’re awake, but it can also happen when you’re asleep. This is not the same as dreaming, because you’re practically feeling a presence or hearing things that necessarily are not there. You can feel like all of the things you’re seeing or feeling are happening in real life, but they’re not.

In dreams, you’re not aware of your surroundings and that is when you’re blocked from the rest of the world. However, in hallucinations, things can look and feel very real. You can see figures, hear noises, and even smell things that aren’t necessarily there which can be a nerve-wracking experience. You should see a sleep specialist Bethesda immediately in this case.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a type of sleep disorder in which your brain can will you to sleep at any given time. No matter what time of the day it is, you will suddenly feel drowsy and you can essentially fall asleep doing anything. Now, this might not sound dangerous, but it can be, especially if you’re doing something like driving, cooking, or even going somewhere in a public place.

Usually, in narcolepsy, a person’s biological clock or circadian rhythm is highly compromised and they can’t tell when they want to sleep. Essentially, they are unable to regulate their sleep cycle and schedule.

Fatal Familial Insomnia

This is a sleep disorder that progresses slowly. You will start to have difficulty sleeping, but as time goes on you will be unable to fall asleep from the get-go and that is dangerous. Fatal familial insomnia is a very grave condition and it can deregulate your bodily actions and behaviors.

You can experience a lot of fatigue and over time it can cause a series of ailments in your body, because of not being able to fall asleep. You will start to have hypertension and your brain will lose focus altogether. This is one of the very rare sleeping disorders that can lead to death.

Sleep Apnea

Another sleeping disorder that can be dangerous, especially if you think about it, is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a type of sleep disorder in which a person can stop breathing for a bit in their sleep. Since they’re unconscious, they can’t tell if they stopped breathing or not and this is mainly experienced by someone who is sleeping with them.

You do resume breathing after a couple of seconds, but in very rare cases, sleep apnea can be prolonged and it can cause you to wake up with a start. It is very frightening to think about your breath stopping when you’re sleeping and that is what can cause you to not sleep at all.

Sleep-Eating Disorder

Similar to sleepwalking, some people can also cook and eat in their sleep. They are awake and their eyes are open, but they can’t register the fact that they’re making or eating food. This can be dangerous because your subconscious mind will try to make food, and you can get burned or injured while trying to prepare the food.

Some people can also choke on their food and that can turn into a medical emergency pretty fast. This is why sleep-related eating disorders can be hard to deal with.

Sleep Bruxism

Sleep bruxism is a type of disorder in which you’re constantly clenching and grinding your teeth. This can lead to a lot of jaw issues and teeth damage and it can also lead to intense headaches and migraines because your teeth are connected to several nerve endings and those can be damaged during sleep too.

Your teeth can also break and that is a nightmare for anyone who is trying to have a good night’s rest.

Conclusion

Sleep disorders are seldom dangerous, but some can frighten you a lot. In any case, if you’re suffering from sleep problems, you should visit a sleep center Frederick.