Sleep well What helps against sleep disorders

World Sleep Day: What helps against sleep disorders

03/14/2014

Restful sleep is the basis for a relaxed, healthy life. However, about 45 percent of the world's population suffer from sleep disorders. Frequently, stress and other mental stress cause a restless sleep. A particularly severe form of sleep disorder is obstructive sleep apnea, in which respiratory failure can promote sequelae such as heart attack and stroke. On today's Weltschlaftag informs the Austrian society for sleep medicine and sleep research (ÖGSM) in the discussion with „Kurier.at“ about risks and treatment options of sleep disorders.

45 percent of the world population suffer from sleep disorders
The human being „oversleep“ about a third of his life. But that only applies to around 55 percent of the world's population. The remainder is suffering from sleep disorders that can lead to chronic fatigue, difficulty concentrating, loss of performance, increased risk of accidents and depression. Everyone has to sleep to regenerate and recover. It has been proven that sleep is even vital to survival. Why this is so, however, gives the scientists puzzles so far.

In patients with depression, sleep deprivation is sometimes used as part of inpatient treatment as a therapeutic measure. But it is also used as a torture method to eliminate clear thinking and to break the will and inner resistances of the victim. This shows how seriously sleep deprivation can affect the psyche.

„Sleep disorders can occur at any age - from infants to old age. On the one hand, they are the result of physical or mental illness, but on the other hand, they can also trigger such diseases. Some are even inheritable, "explained Wolfgang Mallin, pulmonologist and president of the ÖGSM, to the online editors.There is a distinction between acute, usually lasting only a few days, and chronic sleep disorders, which can last for weeks to years, like Gerhard Klösch from the University Department of Neurology at the MedUni Vienna told the online editors, the Austrians sleep on average about eight hours, with women resting 15 minutes longer. „Of course, it would be even better if we slept a little more, about nine hours. "

Disturbed sleep by obstructive sleep apnea
The so-called obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most serious forms of sleep disorder. Breathing interruptions close the upper respiratory tract partially or even completely. The respiratory arrest causes a reduced oxygen supply. As a result, repeated awakening reactions occur, but these usually do not lead to the awakening of the person concerned, but merely cause an increase in his bodily functions, such as an accelerated pulse. People with sleep apnea no longer recover during sleep and therefore often suffer from a pronounced daytime tiredness. There is also another problem. „The risk of sequelae such as heart attack or stroke is high, "reported Mallin.To the therapy usually either surgical measures are taken or a special sleep mask (CPAP therapy) used.This air by means of ventilator with increased pressure in the upper airways is directed, so that breathing interruptions are prevented.

Sleep disorders can be helped by sleep coaching
As the Internet portal reports, non-organic sleep disorders can be treated by sleep coaching. A combination of hypnosis and Gestalt therapy is used. The psychologist Brigitte Holzinger, director of the Institute for Consciousness and Dream Research, shows patients how they can change their sleep behavior. It discusses psychological issues and exposes mechanisms of repression.

As Holzinger explained to the online editors, sleep disorders were different in men and women. „Women are mostly those who care for and care for people, such as children and older people. As a result, their sleep is often interrupted. "Sleep apnea occurs in both sexes, with the disease often being overlooked in women, who suffered from sleep disturbances, especially during menopause and during pregnancy. „It is a holistic problem. You experience a tremendous hormonal change and complete change in the life situation, "said the psychologist.