Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that we have discussed frequently on this podcast. It's also a disorder that can have its origins in other sleep and medical disorders. Many disorders can masquerade as simple insomnia, and knowing the true underlying cause can be the difference between solving a medical mystery and suffering needlessly. In this episode, we will:
- Differentiate between primary and secondary insomnia
- Review the medications that often disrupt sleep
- Breakdown the reasons sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy can confound medical providers as it pertains to insomnia
- Touch on paroxysmal disorders like epilepsy/seizures and migraine and how they can be mistaken for insomnia
- Spotlight menopause and pregnancy as an insomnia pretender
- Look at the sleep consequences of neurocognitive disorders like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease
- Showcase pain and itching as unusual causes of insomnia-like behavior
- Talk about gastrointestinal disorders like gastroesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowl syndrome
- Sprinkle in several other medical problems that can behave like insomnia
Produced by: Maeve Winter
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Thanks for listening and sleep well!
