Sleep disturbances affect nearly everyone at some point. They occur when you have problems falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting quality sleep. Common sleep disturbances include insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and circadian rhythm disorders. Insomnia involves having trouble falling or staying asleep. It's the most prevalent sleep disorder. Acute insomnia lasts a short time, while chronic insomnia persists for a month or longer. Causes include stress, travel, illness, poor sleep habits, and some medications. Treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), improved sleep hygiene, or short-term sleep aids can help. Sleep apnea causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep. This reduces oxygen levels and interrupts sleep. Risk factors include obesity, large tonsils/adenoids, smoking, and family history. Treatments such as CPAP machines, oral appliances, or surgery may help. Restless leg syndrome (RLS) involves uncomfortable sensations and urge to move the legs. Symptoms mainly occur during periods of inactivity and improve with movement. RLS runs in families and gets worse with age in many people. Lifestyle changes, leg massages, medication, or treating underlying causes can provide relief. Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders stem from misalignment between your internal body clock and the external 24-hour day/night cycle. This mismatch affects your sleep timing. Travel across time zones often causes temporary jet lag. But other factors like shift work or unusual sleep schedules can cause chronic issues. Light therapy, melatonin, and sticking to routines can help recalibrate your body clock. If you continually have sleep problems, see your doctor. They can check for underlying issues and refer you to a sleep specialist for a sleep study. Getting enough quality sleep is vital for health, so treat sleep disorders early. Struggling with sleep issues? The caring doctors at Optimal Hormone Solutions offer individualized sleep assessments and treatment plans to help you finally get the restful sleep you need. Their holistic, natural hormone therapies help tackle causes of sleep disturbances at their root for both women and men. Visit testosteronepatches.org today to learn more and request a consultation with a sleep health expert! Sweet dreams ahead!