Understanding Nocturnal Sleep Related Eating Disorder

Nocturnal sleep-related eating disorder (NSRED) or often considered as sleep eating disorder (SED) is a type of sleep disorder wherein a person eats unconsciously during the night. Sometimes, NSRED sufferers make an effort to prepare their meal, which can be quite hazardous, since they do it all while sleeping.

Most of NSRED sufferers do not remember or have not recollection of what they did during the past night. Later on, when clues of their behavior start to manifest, they often feel ashamed and guilty. Sometimes, they also feel self-hatred.

NSRED or SED can either be a disorder in eating or sleeping. Usually, sleep eaters like to eat foods that are rich in sugar or fat contents. There are also cases of people suffering from NSRED who eat items that are inedible like soap. Meanwhile, most tend to prepare strange combinations of foods.

There have been various treatments introduced to heal persons stricken with sleep eating disorders.

Although nearly any person can be affected by sleep eating disorders, about 1 - 3% of the general populations appear to have this kind of disorder. Though it could affect both gender, about two-thirds of the total number of sufferers compose of women. People with sleep eating disorders have high risk of becoming overweight or obese.

There are ten usual signs or symptoms that a person is affected by a sleep eating disorder.

1. Eating while unconscious or sleeping

2. Unconscious preparation of meals during the middle of the night

3. Feeling angry

4. Finding food crumbs or wrappers in the bed or pillow that have been left over due to sleep eating on the previous night.

5. Not hungry or craving for breakfast

6. Feels stressed out or tired easily

7. Limited or absolutely no recollection of what transpired during the night

8. Walking while asleep

9. Feeling easily tired or fatigued during the day

10. Anxiety attacks

Various health factors arise out of SED-NOS or NSRED

Here are several of the health risks that may affect the persons who are suffering from sleep eating disorders:

- Gaining weight or obesity

- Being injured while preparing or cooking food while in a sleep eating episode

- Being attacked with anxiety, stress or anger in the daytime

- Poor quality of sleep

Like most the other sleep disorder, there are different types of treatment for NSRED sufferers. The first step is to have a correct diagnosis of his or her symptoms. A doctor can prescribe a visit to the sleep center, where there is a laboratory to conduct several tests on the sleep eater. During the sleep test, it is important to identify if there are other diseases, medical conditions of sleep disorders that causes the signs of NSRED. These conditions can be hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, sleep apnea, encephalitis or hepatitis.

Meanwhile, there are natural treatments for NSRED sufferers that can be as effective:

- Maintain a daily regular form of exercise

- Enrolling in a stress management or stress reduction class

- Quitting nicotine intake and any other stimulant that can disrupt sleep

- Limiting consumption of alcohol

- Controlling the amount and time of caffeine intake

Furthermore, sleeping pills must always be avoided. A doctor must supervise the person's intake if it becomes necessary to take.