Ten health condition that can disrupt sleep.
1. Acid Reflux Acid reflux occurs when the muscle between the
stomach and the oesophagus doesn't seal
properly. It's most noticeable at night when laid
down as this position allows acid to flow out of the
stomach, causing heartburn. Hormone changes
during pregnancy and eating a poor diet can increase risk, and around 75 per cent of sufferers
find it affects their ability to sleep. 2. Restless Legs Syndrome Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a condition where
there is an uncontrollable urge to move the legs,
with the feeling often much worse at night . Both
voluntary and involuntary movements can affect
quality of sleep, and it takes RLS sufferers around
30 minutes longer to fall asleep on average. It can be difficult to pinpoint a cause, but iron deficiencies
could be to blame. 3. Arthritis While arthritis itself does not affect sleep, the
associated pain can have a big effect. Sufferers may
subconsciously move their muscles more
frequently in the night to address pain, and many
follow an alpha-delta sleep pattern which includes
regular waking. The alpha-delta pattern replaces the typical slow wave sleep which is when
the highest quality sleep occurs. 4. Exhaustion Being exhausted is often associated with being
sleepy, but actually exhaustion and tiredness are
two very different things. In fact, those who feel
'burnt out' - with constant fatigue and emotional
stress for example - typically sleep much worse
than others, with more awake time during the night, less slow wave sleep (deep sleep), and an
overall lower sleep efficiency. 5. Diabetes Studies have found that while the average rate of
sleep disturbances amongst healthy adults is
around eight per cent, this figure rises sharply for
people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes , with
around 33 per cent who report difficulties sleeping.
Sleep disruptions are often related to poor circulation, with leg cramps, burning soles, and a
tingling sensation in the feet commonly cited as
reasons for poor sleep. 6. Overactive bladder syndrome Overactive bladder syndrome is when the bladder
contracts as if it is full, although it may still be quite
empty. The contraction leads to feelings of urgency,
and sufferers may feel the need to use the toilet
more frequently. Overactive bladder syndrome is
associated with a poor quality of sleep and affects about 16 per cent of men and 17 per cent of women. 7. Nocturnal asthma Nocturnal asthma leaves sufferers struggling to
catch a breath, experiencing chest tightness, and wheezing and coughing during the night. It's
thought that common allergens like bed bugs and
dust mites in bed linen contribute towards the condition. Around 93 per cent of sufferers report bad sleep, and studies show average sleep time is reduced by around 47 minutes. 8. Irritable bowel syndrome Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a condition that
causes abdominal cramping, bloating and excess
gas, and can cause both diarrhoea and
constipation. Studies have found that around 71 per cent of IBS sufferers report sleep disturbances, with the most common reason for a lack of sleep being painful stomach aches. IBS is frequently associated with stress. 9. Allergic rhinitis Around one in five people in the UK suffer with allergic rhinitis - an inflammation of the inside of the
nose caused by common allergens like pollen, pet hair, or dust mites . Those with allergic rhinitis are more likely to report insomnia, and are more likely
to snore which can affect quality of sleep. Some studies have also shown a link between allergic rhinitis and sleep apnoea.10. Depression Studies suggest that around 23 per cent of depressed people experience insomnia -
having trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep and around 6 per cent suffer with hypersomnia -sleeping for excessive periods that can affect day-to-day life. Antidepressants used to treat depression are a recognised contributing factor to sleep.