What is sleep disorder, and what are its manifestations?

Sleep disorders refer to abnormalities in the amount of sleep or unusual behaviors during sleep, reflecting disruptions in the normal rhythmic alternation between sleep and wakefulness. Symptoms of sleep disorders include difficulty falling asleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, early morning awakening, reduced sleep quality, and impaired daytime functioning. If these symptoms persist for more than one month and significantly affect daily life, study, or work, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly.

1. Difficulty falling asleep: Remaining awake for more than 30 minutes after going to bed, with persistent alertness or racing thoughts, despite repeated attempts to fall asleep. Long-term cases may be accompanied by anxiety.

2. Sleep maintenance disorder: Frequent awakenings during the night (more than two times), difficulty returning to sleep quickly after waking, frequent body movements, or vivid dreams, leading to fragmented sleep and inability to achieve continuous deep sleep.

3. Early morning awakening: Waking up 1–2 hours earlier than usual wake-up time and being unable to fall back asleep, resulting in insufficient total sleep. Chronic early awakening may be associated with mood issues or circadian rhythm disturbances.

4. Reduced sleep quality: Despite seemingly adequate sleep duration, sleep is light and easily disturbed by external noises. Individuals do not feel refreshed upon waking and continue to feel tired and weak, with poor mental state during the day.

5. Impaired daytime functioning: Due to poor nighttime sleep, individuals may experience difficulty concentrating, memory decline, mood swings, dizziness, headaches, excessive daytime sleepiness, or slowed reaction times, all of which can interfere with daily activities.

Maintain a regular sleep schedule by setting consistent bedtime and wake-up times; avoid electronic devices before sleep and create a quiet, dark sleeping environment; avoid overeating at dinner, refrain from consuming coffee or strong tea, and engage in moderate physical activity to help improve sleep.