A good night’s sleep is essential to maintaining mental and physical health. Some people, however, may be doing things in their sleep that can harm their health. From snoring to teeth grinding, in this blog post, you’ll learn about a few common unhealthy habits that people do while they sleep and tips on how to address them:
Snoring
Snoring is one of the most common unhealthy habits that can occur while sleeping. With snoring, a person’s airway becomes partially obstructed, and a sound is made due to the vibrations of the soft tissue in the throat or nose. Snoring can sometimes indicate sleep disorders such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
OSA occurs when a person’s airway collapses or becomes blocked during sleep but resumes once they wake up. Not only does snoring disrupt the quality of sleep for any potential roommates, but it also has consequences for your own body because lack of adequate rest can lead to health problems. To avoid these potential sleep issues and develop healthy sleeping habits, it is vital to recognize and address any snoring problem before it gets out of hand.
Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)
This is another common issue that people experience during their sleep which is caused by clenching their jaw or grinding their teeth together involuntarily. This can cause jaw pain, headaches, and earaches due to increased pressure on the jaw joints and muscles. It can also cause dental issues such as enamel wear and gum recession.
To protect your teeth from damage, it’s best to wear a mouthguard if you suffer from bruxism during your sleep. You can also take advantage of modern dentistry techniques, such as dental bonding or veneers, which can fix minor cosmetic damage caused by bruxism. Visit an experienced dentist to learn more about these options and how they can help you.
Bedwetting
Bedwetting is one of the most common atypical sleep behaviors. It is a condition that happens involuntarily and affects people of all ages, especially children. Bedwetting occurs during deep sleep and can leave the sleeper feeling embarrassed and ashamed of their behavior.
Unfortunately, in these cases, compulsions or intrusive thoughts about bedwetting may develop if the issue isn’t addressed timely. Additionally, frequent wetting can lead to dehydration caused by those who suffer from it not drinking enough water to hydrate throughout the day due to fear or shame associated with the issue. Thankfully, treatments such as medications, bed dampness detectors, bladder training, restricted liquid intake before bedtime, and psychotherapy can help individuals manage their bedwetting problem.
Sleepwalking
While you may think sleepwalking is rare, studies have found that it is much more common than you’d expect. According to a study, 29% of children from around 2 to 13 years old experience sleepwalking. However, the same study found that it can also occur in up to 4% of adults. Sleepwalking often occurs during deep sleep, although researchers are still trying to determine the exact cause of this particular sleeping disorder.
Unfortunately, because it happens during deep sleep, those who experience it have no recollection of the occurrences afterward. It is essential to know that while sleepwalking can be harmless, it could sometimes leave individuals vulnerable. They could potentially hurt themselves or endanger others if they wander out of their home when asleep. Therefore it is wise to take precautionary measures such as ensuring your bedroom and environment are safe so that potential hazards can be avoided should someone embark upon a night-time wandering spree.
Sleep Talking
Sleep talking, also known as somniloquy, is a normal, albeit uncommon, phenomenon that can occur during sleep. It occurs more frequently during the non-REM stages of sleep and rarely happens during REM sleep. Sleep talkers usually mumble under their breath when they are speaking, but sometimes they utter words or phrases loud enough to be heard by those nearby. The words spoken aren’t usually related to what’s happening around them and make no sense.
Although it may seem concerning, most episodes are harmless and usually forgotten in the morning by the person sleeping and anyone nearby who heard it. If you think that you or someone you know might experience somniloquy, consulting a doctor or other healthcare specialist can help determine if it’s a cause for concern or just an unhealthy habit due to stress or other conditions.
Sleep is essential for your mental and physical well-being, but sometimes you may unwittingly engage in unhealthy habits without realizing them until later when these activities have already become problematic. The habits mentioned above are just some activities you might participate in while you slumber. So if any of these sound familiar, then now would be a great time to take action and address them before any potential issues arise from prolonged engagement in said activities.
