I call myself an Owl. I am most active late at night and feel sleepy during the day. Is this normal? There is a disorder called the Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome which is very often confused with insomnia. Your pattern might fit into this. In this, people are not able to fall asleep when the ‘society’ requires them to. They find that they are not fresh as soon as they wake up, but feel absolutely normal if they are allowed to sleep late into the day. Disorders like this can be confused with insomnia and that is why it is important that you meet your doctor, if sleep issues affect you! What is Sleep Apnea Syndrome? This is a syndrome in which the oxygen supply is cut off to your lungs due the muscles that keep your airway open weakening when you sleep. As a result, you ‘wake up’ for a few seconds without your knowledge which then keeps your airways open. Due to this episode repeating itself several times during the night, you do not get adequate sleep that in turns keeps you tired and sleepy through the day. Can this be treated? Yes it can. Depending on what is causing the sleep apnea syndrome in you, treatment can vary from simple weight loss to other treatments like using a simple machine to maintain your airway pressure. Restless Leg Syndrome? Yes, there is such a syndrome. This is a condition in which the affected person wants to keep moving his/her leg and has a sense of uneasiness, which, usually the affected person is not able to describe. The causes are wide and varied and depending on the cause, treatment has to be tailored individually. |