Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder is a common sleep disorder that can be hard to manage. But what is it, what are its causes, and how do sleep doctors Damascus MD treat it? Here is what to know about it so that you can treat it timely and get a good night’s rest without any problems or disturbance.
What Is REM Sleep Behavior Disorder?
REM sleep behavior disorder is a type of sleeping disorder in which you can act out your dreams. You can move your limbs, eyes, and other body parts in this disorder and even though you might or might not be able to feel it, your sleeping partner will feel all of this and it can be quite difficult to deal with.
REM sleep behavior disorder is also known as parasomnia and even though it might not sound dangerous, it can cause injuries to your body, especially if you’re living out a very violent and scary dream. Some people can move their limbs a lot. Others can sit up while sleeping and reenact their dreams. Some can even talk in their dreams and the list goes on.
REM sleep behavior disorder also causes you to have very vivid dreams. Vivid dreams are dreams that almost feel real. When you’re in a dream, you feel like it’s an event of your life and when you wake up from it, it can be hard to gather your bearings at first. So, it’s safe to say that the experience can be very daunting and it can lead to a lot of psychological issues and it can also lead you to not sleeping well.
REM sleep behavior disorder is manageable, but you need to know what you’re dealing with first before you can get to the bottom of the treatment and management plan.
What Causes REM Sleep Behavior Disorder?
REM sleep behavior disorder is a bit confusing when it comes to the actual cause. REM sleep behavior disorder can be caused randomly or there might be other underlying issues that you might be facing that can lead to REM sleep behavior disorder.
Parkinson’s Disease
Some people who suffer from Parkinson’s disease can fall victim to REM sleep behavior disorder as well.
Multiple System Atrophy
Multiple system atrophy as well as dementia can also be the leading causes of REM sleep behavior disorder and this can be hard for older people who are already dealing with a lot of issues and now they have to deal with erratic sleep as well.
PTSD
PTSD can also lead to REM sleep behavior disorder and in this case, you will mostly have nightmares or violent dreams that trigger your PTSD. This can be quite troublesome to deal with because you’re already battling a disorder that makes you very fatigued and now your sleep will be affected by this too.
Due To Another Issue Or Disorder
A lot of the time, REM sleep behavior disorder can be caused randomly too, so there’s really no telling for sure what can cause it in the first place. It can either be a secondary symptom of any other disorder or it can be because of stress, a bad sleep schedule, and working in different time zones.
All of these factors can more or less contribute to REM sleep behavior disorder and its worsening in the future so you should get help from a sleep specialist Bethesda.
Symptoms Of REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
Here are some of the very common symptoms that you can experience when you’re suffering from REM sleep behavior disorder.
- You get headaches. This happens because you’re not getting enough sleep and when you wake up, it’s like you’re tired and you want to go back to sleep.
- You will shout and scream in your sleep. This won’t be experienced by you, but anyone who sleeps with you will experience all of this and it can be frightening, to say the least.
- Your limbs will move a lot. You might kick your hands and feet a lot and cause a lot of disturbance.
- You might roll off the bed, especially if you’re in a dream where you’re moving a lot. This can cause a lot of head injuries, which can be a hassle.
- You can also, involuntarily, grab the air, punch and kick it, as if you’re fighting someone in your dream and some cases, people can also often grab their sleeping partners, which can turn into an unpleasant experience.
- Your breathing will also be labored as if you’ve run a marathon, and you’ll feel it when you wake up.
Treatment For REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
Now that you know what REM sleep behavior disorder is, here is how to treat and manage it.
See A Doctor Immediately
If you see irregularities in your sleep pattern and you find yourself waking up at night a lot, then it’s time to see a sleep doctor first so that you can get diagnosed for whatever is wrong with you.
This is important because you want to know whether you’re suffering from REM sleep behavior disorder or something else, so it’s important to see a doctor now so that they can run some tests and properly diagnose you.
Remove Hazards
REM sleep behavior disorder is essentially you acting on your dreams, but being unaware of it. Now, this might not sound so harmful or dangerous, but it can be. So, you want to start by protecting yourself, by making your sleep area safe and protected from any hazards.
This includes removing any sharp objects, restricting you from going anywhere, having padded flooring so that you don’t hurt your feet and the list goes on. Even if you do experience something erratic in the middle of the night, you are safe and you won’t fall victim to any unwanted accidents.
Medication
The next thing that can help manage and treat REM sleep behavior disorder is the right medication. You can take natural melatonin. It is a sleep-inducing hormone that regulates your circadian rhythm and makes you sleep well at night.
Alternatively, you can also take sedatives to help you sleep better, but they should be taken if and when a doctor prescribes you. Clonazepam can help regulate your sleep, but it does have side effects so it’s better to consult with a doctor first, before trying any new medication.
Keep Track Of Activity
This is something that will keep you more proactive in the treatment of REM sleep behavior disorder, but that is to keep a sleep journal. A lot of people think that sleep journals are unnecessary, but they are necessary and they help you to keep track of the things that you did.
So, you must jot down whatever you’re feeling, how tired you were, how much sleep you got the night before, and everything in between in a journal. You can also show it to your doctor on your next visit and this will help them to understand your pattern and any possible triggers in your routine that might be aggravating REM sleep behavior disorder.
Conclusion
REM sleep disorder can turn from harmless to frightening quickly, so you need to treat it before it’s too late. So, if you notice the symptoms, visit a sleep center Chevy Chase ASAP.