From insomnia to sleep apnea, millions of Americans have been diagnosed with some sort of sleep disorder. Take this quick quiz to test your knowledge of some of the most common ones.
1. True or False: Sleep apnea occurs when you temporarily stop breathing while sleeping, either because your airway becomes blocked or your brain fails to tell you to breathe.
The answer is true. The most common type of sleep apnea is the obstructive type, which occurs when your airway becomes blocked, causing you to stop breathing hundreds of times during the night. Treating obstructive sleep apnea is crucial because doctors have linked the condition to an increased risk of stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. Central sleep apnea means your brain fails to tell you to breathe while sleeping-and mixed, or complex, sleep apnea is a combination of types. In all cases, it's important to talk to your doctor about the most appropriate treatments.
2. True or False: Approximately 10 to 15 percent of adults report suffering from long-term (chronic) insomnia.
The answer is true. Insomnia includes having trouble falling or staying asleep, and it's one of the most common medical complaints, according to the Mayo Clinic. Insomnia can not only affect your energy level and mood, but may have negative consequences on your work performance and your general quality of life. Fortunately, by learning special relaxation techniques and associating their bedroom with sleep only (this involves keeping all daytime activities out of the bedroom), insomnia sufferers can enjoy a more restful, uninterrupted sleep.
3. True or False: Narcolepsy is another sleep disorder in which people have trouble falling or staying asleep.
The answer is false. Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder caused by the brain's inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles normally. At various times throughout the day, people with narcolepsy experience fleeting urges to sleep. If the urge becomes overwhelming, individuals will fall asleep for periods lasting from a few seconds to several minutes. In rare cases, some people may remain asleep for an hour or longer. There is no cure for narcolepsy but there are certain medications available, which can help with the condition.
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