2024 Volume 64 Issue 5 Pages 431-435
Sleep deprivation and a nocturnal lifestyle are societal issues in Japan that affect individuals across various age groups. Adolescents and young adults often adopt a nocturnal lifestyle, finding it challenging to awaken early due to a shift in their biological clocks. Delayed sleep-wake phase disorder is characterized by habitual delayed sleep-wake timing. The disorder is prevalent among adolescents and young adults and is frequently associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, which have been linked to a higher prevalence of orthostatic dysregulation. Restless legs syndrome, a movement disorder characterized by abnormal sensations in the lower extremities, is increased in individuals with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Moreover, idiopathic hypersomnia, a central hypersomnia prevalent among adolescents and young adults, may present with accompanying symptoms of orthostatic dysregulation.
In the treatment of orthostatic dysregulation, providing instruction on sleep hygiene is important. It is crucial to assess sleep deprivation, evaluate bedtime/wake time rhythms, address leg discomfort experienced on falling asleep, and inquire about daytime sleepiness and lapses in alertness.
