Common Sleep Disorders

A sleep disorder is any condition that interrupts normal sleep-wake patterns. All of the sleep disorders described here can be evaluated and effectively treated:

Sleep Apnea
Persons suffering from sleep apnea stop breathing for short periods of time while they are asleep. These periods, accompanied by loud, irregular snoring, can range from 10 to 90 seconds in duration and may occur 30 to 300 times a night. The sleep apnea sufferer also awakens briefly with each gasp for breath, resulting in poor sleep quality and daytime tiredness.

Sleep apnea can cause morning headaches, high blood pressure and rapid weight gain. It has also been linked to heart disease, temporary memory loss, confusion, personality changes, impotence and maybe diabetes.

Insomnia
Difficulty falling or staying asleep during the night is called insomnia. Insomnia can be brought on by persistent stress, depression, medications, an irregular sleep schedule or physical illness. Persistent insomnia can leave you feeling tired and irritable, and affect your daily activities, work and relationships.

Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a neurological condition characterized by daytime sleep attacks, sleepiness and lack of energy. Those suffering from narcolepsy also experience muscle weakness when they are angry, surprised or amused. Other symptoms may include disturbing dreams just as you fall asleep and muscle paralysis when falling asleep or awakening.

Periodic Limb Movements
An individual with periodic limb movements experiences involuntary leg and arm thrashing and jerking while sleeping, and is tired during the day. Cramping and leg discomfort are other symptoms of this common sleep problem.

Other Sleep Disorders
Other sleep problems may be the result of:

• Chronic respiratory problems or lung diseases which can worsen during sleep, greatly reducing the oxygen level in the blood.
• Significant changes in your sleep-wake schedule, such as those due to shift work or jet lag.
• Nightmares are frightening dreams which can be recalled later. If they occur in adults, they may be related to psychological factors. Night terrors, on the other hand, cannot be recalled in the morning