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The Sleep Disorders Center Articles |
The Most Common Sleeping and Eating DisordersSleeping and Eating Disorders: Sleep Eating Sleep eating is a sleep-related disorder, and is a relatively rare and basically unknown condition that slowly seems to be gaining recognition. These sleep-eating types of sleeping and eating disorders are characterized by sleepwalking as well as nocturnal overeating. Sleep eaters are at risk of health complications, and some of the most common concerns for these types of sleeping and eating disorders include: Excessive weight gain, daytime sleepiness, choking while eating, sleep disruption, injury from cooking, and also the potential for starting a fire while working in the kitchen asleep. Sleep eaters are completely or at least primarily unaware and unconscious of their behavior, and if there is any at all memory from the episode, it is usually sketchy. Sleep eating is a sleep disorder that is classified in the parasomnia category, and the food that is consumed by these sleep eaters tends to be either high in sugar or fat. The major features of an arousal disorder such as sleep eating are: Abnormal behavior that occurs during an arousal from slow wave sleep, the absence of awareness during the episode, automatic and repetitive motor activity, slow reaction time and reduced sensitivity to environment, difficulty in waking despite vigorous and repetitive attempts, no memory of the episode in the morning, and no or little dream recall associated with the event. Recent studies indicate that about two thirds of the people who suffer from sleep eating are women, and although it is a disorder that can affect anyone, it is most often associated with young women. Interventions with the use of particular medications has proven to be helpful in many cases of sleep eating, and courses on stress management, group or one-on-one counseling, or self-confidence training may also be used to help alleviate stress and anxiety which may be linked to the nighttime binging that occurs during a sleep eating session. As well, addressing any hormonal and biochemical imbalances in patients with this sleeping disorder can be crucial for uncovering that of possible fundamental causes and contributing factors that underlie cynical, habitual patterns of insomnia, overeating, and depression. |
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Uncovering the Source of Adult Sleep Problems
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