Common Sleep Disorders

There are over 84 classified sleep disorders. The following sleep disorders are some of the most common ones seen by a sleep disorders specialist in a comprehensive sleep center setting.

Sleep apnea

Sleep Apnea is characterized by a cessation of breathing during sleep. Such episodes can happen hundreds of times at night, often resulting in EDS or, excessive daytime sleepiness. A major indicator of sleep apnea is snoring.

Sleep apnea can cause short-term problems, including:

• fatigue
• memory loss
• irritability
• impaired performance

Early diagnosis and treatment are essential. If left untreated, sleep apnea may lead to more severe problems such as:

• high blood pressure
• heart failure
• stroke
• diabetes

Narcolepsy

This disorder is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, despite the amount of sleep attained the previous night. Narcoleptics may have extreme difficulty staying awake, often falling asleep while at work, school, home, or even while driving. Other symptoms may include:

• sleep paralysis: a feeling of being paralyzed upon waking
• hallucinations: hearing or seeing things when falling asleep or upon awakening
• cataplexy: muscle weakness or loss of muscle tone associated with strong emotions such as anger or laughter

Periodic Limb Movements Disorder & Restless Legs Syndrome

Periodic Limb Movements Disorder is characterized by “jerking” movements during sleep which may awaken a person or their partner many times at night. Restless Legs Syndrome patients often report having “creeping” or “crawling” sensations in their limbs, prior to falling asleep. These symptoms are often relieved with walking or physical activity. Such patients may wake with a messy bed, sheets that are tossed aside, and bed partners complaining of that the patients “run a marathon” in their sleep.

Insomnia

Polls show that, at any given time, more than 49% of the population is suffering from some type of insomnia. Symptoms include difficulty getting to sleep or problems staying asleep. Insomnia can be a symptom of another problem, ranging from medical, psychiatric, and drug-related problems, to behavioral or internal sleep rhythm imbalances. It is important to determine whether one or more conditions are leading to the insomnia before treatment can be initiated.