Irregular Sleep-Wake Syndrome

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Irregular Sleep-Wake Syndrome
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What is irregular sleep-wake syndrome?

• Irregular sleep-wake rhythm is one of several
  circadian rhythm disorders.
• People with these disorders have sleep times that
  seem to be out of alignment.
• Their sleep patterns do not follow the normal
  sleep times at night. The sleep of patients with
  irregular sleep-wake rhythm is so disorganized
  that there is no clear sleep or wake pattern.

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Symptoms

• Sleep off and on in a series of naps during the
  day and at night.
• Have no regular pattern of when they sleep and
  are awake.
• Have a hard time sleeping well, or are very
  sleepy when they are awake.
• Have a total sleep time that is not normal for
  their age.

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causes - irregular sleep-wake syndrome?

• Irregular sleep-wake syndrome is a near absence
  of the circadian rhythm responsible for
  regulating periods of wakefulness and rest.
• It appears that if you dont have a daily routine
  or set schedule, youre at an increased risk of
  developing irregular sleep-wake syndrome.
• The prevalence of irregular sleep-wake syndrome
  increases with age. However, age itself isnt a
  risk factor.
• Some factors unrelated to irregular sleep-wake
  syndrome can temporarily disrupt the sleep-wake
  circadian cycle. These include working irregular
  work shifts (switching between day shifts and
  overnight shifts) and frequent travel among
  different time zones.

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Risk Factors

• Irregular sleep-wake rhythm is rare. We do not
  even know how many people have it. It is believed
  that some people may have it because they have a
  weak body clock. This may happen in neurological
  conditions like the following
• Dementia
• Brain damage
• Mental retardation

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Diagnose - irregular sleep-wake syndrome?

• Sleep Specialist doctor will ask you about recent
  sleeping habits. They will also ask about ongoing
  issues with insomnia or excessive sleepiness
  during the day.
• Your Sleep Expert may use a sleep diary and an
  actigraph to help diagnose irregular sleep-wake
  syndrome.
• A physician will look for a minimum of three
  cycles of sleeping and waking within a period of
  24 hours to make a diagnosis.

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Controlling irregular sleep-wake syndrome

• Several therapies and lifestyle changes may help
  to resolve irregular sleep-wake syndrome. These
  include
• Limit your exposure to blue light from TV and
  computer screens at night.
• Melatonin supplementation
• Adding more structure to your day This could
  include scheduling social interaction, exercise,
  and other activities.
• Making your sleep environment as inviting and
  comfortable as possible
• Minimizing the amount of noise in your sleep
  environment
• The ultimate goal of treatment is to help you
  sleep longer at night and maximize wakefulness
  during the day.

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