Experts reveal symptoms that strike during nighttime rest and what those signs might mean for your health.
Instead, people may misattribute these feelings to a lack of caffeine, a late night or daytime stress.
Postnasal dripis another possible culprit.
This leaves them gasping for air.
It can be because of allergies, changes in weather or the common cold.
Staying hydrated can help thin out mucus and make it pass more easily.
Ditto mucus-thinning agents, like Mucinex, and saline nasal irrigations.
Acid refluxcan also cause gasping, thanks to acidic secretions from the stomach refluxing up to the esophagus.
Often, patients will taste an acidic feeling in their mouth, Johnston said.
Snoring
Snoring is another common symptom of sleep apnea.
Shortness of breath and increased sweating are additional symptoms that might disrupt your sleep.
A sleep specialist can order a sleep study to determine if you have sleep apnea.
Sleepwalking
Sleepwalking is considered a parasomnia, or an undesirable behavior or experience during sleep.
It can be due to sleep deprivation, stress, anxiety or fever.
Its more frequent in people with mental illnesses and can be associated with sleepwalking and nightmares, Khan said.
Other causes may include emotional stress, fevers and substance misuse.
If sleep talking isnt a normal occurrence and causes alarm, its important to see a specialist.
They can diagnose this disorder by taking a thorough history and ordering a sleep study if needed.
Those suffering from chronic nightmares should seek treatment and advice from a medical professional.
Nocturia can happen on its own or coincide with peeing frequently during the day.
The most obvious cause is drinking too much fluid too close to bedtime.
Your doctor can then use this information to determine the possible causes of and treatment for your nocturia.
The dentist can then fit the individual with a mouth guard to protect their teeth at night.
Other signs of sleep deprivation include excessive daytime sleepiness and difficulty regulatingemotionsor focusing on simple tasks.
Another sign is feeling drowsy or dozing off when doing mundane activities, such as watching TV or driving.
With narcolepsy, theres a loss of a neurotransmitter that regulates wakefulness, Khan said.
People who experience SRED are at an increased risk of fatigue, depression and weight gain, Johnston said.
For people who live by themselves, its a challenge to monitor for a sleep disorder, saidDr.
Thomas Hammond, board-certified neurologist at theMarcus Neuroscience Institutein Boca Raton, Florida.
These might include wearable devices, bedside devices and bed sensors.
Wearable devices can collect information regarding movement, heart rate and breathing patterns.
Bedside devices are placed next to the bed and can collect data regarding breathing habits and body movement.
Then there are bed sensors, which can be placed underneath the sheets or mattress.
These sensors collect information regarding movement and heart rate, Johnston said.
Irregular heart rates can be tied to health conditions, such as hyperthyroidism or excessive stress.
(Some sensors may also track temperature and humidity.)
