Sleep Disorders

Almost half of all people in Germany suffer from a sleep disorder at some point in their lives. A condition that has many serious accompanying effects. The causes can vary greatly from person to person and must be investigated accordingly. In the long term, sleep deprivation leads to, amongst other things, a decline in performance, obesity, depression, and an increased risk of cardiovascular complications.

Early diagnosis and treatment of your sleep disorder is therefore essential for your health. Our experienced doctors will support you at all our locations.

For a diagnosis of sleep disorder, only the following criterion needs to be met: Non-restorative sleep that occurs at least three times per week and persists for at least one month.

The possible triggers of a sleep disorder are extremely varied and should not be overlooked in order to address the problems at their root. The most commonly evidenced causes include:

• situational stress due to temporary periods of strain. This type of sleep disorder typically lasts no more than three months
• psychologically driven rumination or mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder with flashbacks and depression
• inadequate sleep hygiene, including irregular sleep-wake patterns, for example in shift workers, or a disturbed sleep environment through exposure to bright light or noise
• stimulants such as coffee, nicotine, alcohol, or heavy meals

The typical symptoms of a sleep disorder are:

• difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep
• waking too early in the morning
• non-restorative sleep and daytime fatigue despite an adequate duration of sleep
• mood swings
• decline in performance
• difficulty concentrating

Comprehensive treatment of your sleep disorder at avi begins with early diagnosis. The medical measures underlying this are:

• taking a thorough medical history to determine the cause
• excluding other physical or psychiatric conditions that may trigger sleep disorders, including pain syndromes, reflux, restless legs syndrome, and sleep apnoea

In rare cases, the diagnostic process is extended in a clinical setting, where it is supplemented by EEG and polysomnography. The latter examines brain waves, breathing, oxygen saturation, heart rate, snoring sounds, and eye and muscle movements for abnormalities.

Diagnosis is followed by therapeutic treatment, which encompasses:

• counselling and education on evidence-based sleep hygiene, sleep routines, and individual behavioural approaches
• relaxation techniques (progressive muscle relaxation, autogenic training, meditation)
• in exceptional cases and for a limited period: medication. These include herbal sleep aids (valerian, hops), melatonin (a natural sleep hormone, also available as a nasal spray), or antihistamines. In cases of concurrent depression, sleep-promoting antidepressants such as mirtazapine may also be used. In more extreme cases: benzodiazepines or so-called Z-drugs