Sleep Disorders

Snoring 
Loud snoring is a sign of a narrowed airway. Roughly 10-30 percent of adults snore. Though snoring usually has no medical consequences, it can indicate a potentially life-threatening but often undiagnosed sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Sleep Apnea 
Obstructed Sleep Apnea (OSA) affects approximately 18 million Americans. OSA causes a person to stop breathing repeatedly while sleeping and occurs when the airway collapses, preventing oxygen from filling the lungs and reaching the brain. The brain senses that you are having difficulty breathing and increases the effort to breathe. The increased effort awakens the brain in order to open the throat. Once you are awake, breathing returns to normal and you fall back asleep – and the cycle repeats itself.

People with OSA may not get enough oxygen during sleep and do not sleep soundly. This can lead to daytime sleepiness and fatigue. Some symptoms of OSA include: snoring, choking or grasping for breath during sleep; tiredness after a full night’s sleep; falling asleep while driving; morning headaches; depression or irritability; and memory loss. People with untreated OSA may be at risk for increased high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attack or stroke.

Insomnia
Insomnia is the chronic inability to sleep. Many people who suffer from short-term insomnia are prescribed sleeping pills by their physician. If you are prescribed sleeping pills, be extremely judicious in their use. Also, people who suffer from insomnia may use alcohol to help them fall asleep; however, while alcohol might help them fall asleep, it prevents them from entering deep stages of sleep and results in poor sleep. Mild cases can be prevented or cured by practicing good sleep habits.

Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy affects approximately 250,000 Americans. This sleep disorder is characterized by persistent sleepiness and lack of energy during the day. People with narcolepsy may have “sleep attacks” during the day, even with adequate sleep the night before. A sleep attack is a sudden period of sleep in the middle of the day, lasting anywhere from several seconds to 30 minutes. People with narcolepsy may be so overcome with a sleepy sensation that they begin to talk nonsense and even appear drunk.  

Narcolepsy may cause hallucinations, disrupted nighttime sleep and temporary paralysis on waking (“sleep paralysis”). An important characteristic of narcolepsy is that a patient will feel refreshed and be able to function normally after a brief nap. This condition is seen in families, but is also associated with brain damage or neurological disease. Medication can control narcolepsy symptoms.

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is described as “creepy-crawly” pulling and gnawing sensations or discomfort in the legs and sometimes arms. It usually occurs at bedtime, or when sitting or lying still. The sensation is usually felt in the calves and is relieved by stretching or moving the legs. RLS affects one’s quality of life as it determines the length of time they can sit in a car or ride an airplane. RLS is most common in older people, but can occur at any age.

Although the exact cause of RLS is unknown, it is related to several conditions, including anemia, poor blood circulation in the legs, nerve problems, muscle disorders, kidney disorders, alcoholism, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

 Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
Periodic Limb Movement Disorder affects the legs and arms; however, people who suffer from PLMD are not aware of their movements, as they are entirely involuntary. Most people with RLS also have PLMD. Periodic limb movements typically happen in regular intervals, such as every 30 seconds. They resemble kicking or jerking motions. These movements force a person to wake during the night, resulting in poor sleep.

People who suffer from PLMD may complain of difficulty falling asleep, because when they wake up following an involuntary movement they do not realize they had been asleep. PLMD requires a sleep test to be performed overnight for its diagnosis.

Parasomnias
Parasomnia encompasses a range of sleep-disruptive behaviors. The most common include: confusional arousals, sleepwalking, sleep terrors, nightmares and REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD).

Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders
Circadian cycles are influenced by body temperature, hormones, sleep/wake times and even sunlight. They each send cues to help us establish regular periods of sleep and wake times. Circadian Rhythm Disorders can be caused by several factors including age, work, social commitments and even jet lag.

The most common causes are shift work, delayed sleep phase syndrome and advanced sleep phase syndrome. Because shift workers work nontraditional hours, people who work nights must adjust to unnatural schedules and may not get much sleep, causing a sleep disturbance. Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) is common in young adults who have trouble falling asleep until late into the night (around 2 a.m.) and then have trouble waking up in the morning. Advanced sleep phase syndrome (ASPS) is common in older adults and is characterized by sleepiness beginning in the afternoon. People with ASPS fall asleep in the afternoon and are then unable to fall back asleep at night.