While it’s a well-known fact that sleep is necessary for one’s mental and physical health, a lot of people still take it for granted. It starts with one sleepless night, and it goes on and on until, eventually, you end up suffering from a sleep disorder. When that happens, it will compromise your overall health. You become prone to mood changes. You’ll struggle to concentrate on a task. Over time, your immune system will weaken significantly. And in the worst-case scenario, you might get drowsy all of a sudden, which may result in an accident if it occurs in the middle of an activity that requires focus, such as driving. 

While it may seem like sleep disorders are just as easy to diagnose and treat as common cold and flu, in reality, it’s much more challenging. For one, affected individuals are often not even aware that they may be suffering from a sleeping disorder. Sleeplessness is also often seen as nothing serious, and something that can be resolved by just sleeping. But here are the bigger reasons: 

1. Sleep Disorder Machines May Carry Health Risks 

Physicians often recommend the use of devices to help alleviate sleeping disorders. For example, if you have sleep apnea, your doctor may advise you to use a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine.

But although CPAP devices help in improving sleep quality for patients with sleep apnea, they’re also known to come with risks. These may include irritation, headache, and even cancer. If you’re interested in this topic, you can learn more here. Nevertheless, this is one of the reasons why most patients with sleep apnea prefer not to use such machines.  

2. Sleep Loss Worsens The Condition 

Typically, it takes four days to completely recover from just an hour of sleep loss. If you’re suffering from a sleep disorder, then you’re bound to suffer from sleep deprivation for days on end, which in turn makes the condition worse. This cycle is often difficult to get out of, and patients suffering from these conditions are often left in a predicament. Of course, there are several ways to recover from hours of sleep loss apart from sleeping, but they can only do so much. This is especially true when it comes to sleep medications. 

3. Sleep Disorders Are Often A Symptom Of An Underlying Issue 

Common colds and flu can be dealt with through the use of medications, but that’s not the case for sleep disorders. You can take sleeping pills, but it can only offer a temporary fix. This is mainly because sleep disorders are often symptoms of an underlying issue, such as anxiety disorder or depression. So, by taking medications, you’re not really doing anything to eliminate the root of the problem. Instead, you might even be making your condition worse by exposing yourself to the potential side effects of these medications. 

4. Habits Are Tough To Break 

Apart from being a symptom of a potentially serious health issue, sleep disorders may also result from a lifestyle riddled with bad habits. If this is the case, one must first break these habits. But that’s another challenge. Habits are tough to break, especially if they’ve been with you for a long time. Here’s a list of habits that might have something to do with your sleep disorder. 

• Eating too much before going to bed 
• Sleeping in an environment that’s too cold, too warm, or too noisy 
• Taking long naps during the day 
• Drinking caffeinated beverages before bed 
• Smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol 

5. Circadian Rhythm Is Difficult To Change 

If you’ve been looking into sleep disorders for some time, you may have heard of the circadian rhythm at least once. Intrinsically, it’s the timekeeping system of your body. It manages routine physiological processes, such as hunger, digestion, hormonal activity, and wakefulness throughout the day. Normally, the circadian rhythm programs the body to wind down at the end of the day, hence you become sleepy at night.  

However, it’s possible to change the circadian rhythm completely. One of the easiest ways to do so is by simply staying awake late in the night for several days in a row. Hence, patients who are suffering from sleep disorders tend to have an out-of-whack circadian rhythm. To treat the condition, it’s essential to turn the circadian rhythm back to normal, but once your body has settled in the new schedule, it can be challenging to get back to a healthy sleep schedule. As a result, the patient’s sleep disorder would continue to get worse by the day. 

Wrapping Up 

Sleep disorders don’t just occur for no reason. Whether it’s due to anxiety, depression, or simply sleep deprivation, there’s bound to be a reason—always. But since they’re more difficult to diagnose and treat than common health conditions, your best bet is to take preventive measures. Steer away from unhealthy vices, take some time to exercise regularly, and include healthy foods in your diet. You’ll be surprised at how much of a difference these habits can make in your sleep health.

Desert Encounter will attempt to make history at Woodbine on Saturday, as he tries to complete a hat-trick in Canada’s most famous horse race.  The Pattison International Stakes was first staged at the Toronto venue in 1938.

Horses from Canada, the United States and other corners of the world have been travelling to Woodbine in search of riches ever since, with greats like Dahlia, Singspiel and arguably the greatest of them all,
Secretariat claiming top honours in this historic Group One.

The most successful horses in the history of the International Stakes is Joshua Tree. Aidan O’Brien’s raider won this great race three times between 2010 and 2013, finishing second to Sarah Lynx in
2011. Shepperton and George Royal won back-to-back Canadian Internationals and couldn’t quite land the hat-trick – a feat Desert Encounter will attempt when he returns to Woodbine on Saturday.

David Simcock’s globe trotter has run out a ready winner of the past two Pattison Internationals. In 2018, Desert Encounter defeated Thundering Blue to secure his first Group One victory, before
successfully defending his crown the following year. After last year’s meeting was cancelled due to Covid-19, a now nine-year-old Desert Encounter will seek to become the first horse in history to win
three successive renewals of Canada’s most prestigious race.

Desert Encounter may be winless in 15 starts since winning at Woodbine in 2019, but he travels over in decent form. Simcock’s charge was last seen finishing second to Teona at Windsor. The winner has
since upset triple-Oaks winner Snowfall to land the Prix Vermeille and will next take her chance in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Fellow British raider, Walton Street will provide the defending champion with stiff competition according to racing tipsters. Charlie Appleby’s star claimed Group Two glory out in Meydan during
the winter, and heads to Canada on the back of a strong third-placed effort in one of Germany’s most important races, the Grosser Preis von Berlin.

Jonathan Thomas’ Corelli defeated English Conqueror, Belichick and Wheregoesjojo to win the Singspiel Stakes here at Woodbine last month, and all four will take their chance in this year’s
Pattison International. Bluegrass Parkway also comes into this on the back of a victory, having landed the Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Cup at Ellis Park five weeks ago.

Argentinian-bred Fantasioso further adds to the international flavour of this year’s renewal, but all eyes will be on Desert Encounter, as he bids to rule the roost at Woodbine one last time.