All about sleep disorders

Getting enough sleep is an important factor in overall health. However, people with sleep disorders may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Up to 70 million Americans have sleep or wakefulness disorders, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Here are some of the major sleep disorders that affect people.

Insomnia

People with insomnia have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. They may wake up in the middle of the night and cannot fall asleep again.

The lack of sleep from insomnia may result in symptoms like excessive daytime sleepiness, which can make it hard to concentrate throughout the day. People may also feel fatigued and irritable from sleep deprivation.

Insomnia may occur on its own (primary insomnia) or it can be linked to other health conditions (secondary insomnia). On its own, insomnia may be caused by stress, sleeping environment (noise, light, or temperature), or changes to one’s sleep schedule (like a new shift at work, or jet lag).

Secondary insomnia may be caused by other health conditions such as other sleep disorders, substance abuse, medication (insomnia can be a side effect of some medication), or other illnesses like depression.

When insomnia lasts at least 3 nights a week for 3 months or more, it’s considered chronic, and may require treatment. A doctor may prescribe sedating medication or behavioral techniques to treat insomnia.

Narcolepsy

People with narcolepsy experience extreme sleepiness during the day and may have “sleep attacks” where they fall asleep suddenly during the day while doing normal activities, like walking or exercising.

It may also be accompanied by sudden muscle weakness and loss of control of muscles, a condition called cataplexy. This may be caused by a strong emotion like surprise or anger. Cataplexy may cause slurred speech or even collapse.

Other symptoms of narcolepsy may include hallucinations, sleep paralysis, or disrupted sleep.

Because people with narcolepsy have extreme sleepiness during the day or can fall asleep at any time, narcolepsy can have a negative impact on everyday life. People may feel exhausted and have trouble concentrating as a result.

It’s unclear what exactly causes narcolepsy but some risk factors may be family history or age, as it tends to show up between 15 and 25 years old. Narcolepsy can be treated with medication and behavioral interventions.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea causes gasping, snoring, or even snorting during sleep, due to abnormal breathing. Often this interrupts sleep, making it difficult to get a good night’s rest. People with sleep apnea may wake up irritated, be sleepy throughout the day, or have a hard time focusing as a result.

There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep is the more common type. It’s caused when an airway is obstructed, leading to breathing interruptions. Central sleep apnea is when the brain doesn’t control breathing as it should, leading to slower breathing. Someone may also have a mix of the two types, which is referred to as mixed or complex sleep apnea.

Physical and medical conditions may cause sleep apnea. For some, obesity, large tonsils, endocrine issues, kidney issues, or other health issues may cause sleep apnea. The shape and structure of your jaw may also cause sleep apnea.

In any case, sleep apnea that’s left untreated can lead to complications like heart attack, glaucoma, or diabetes. Sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed, and it sometimes takes a bed partner to notice symptoms. A doctor can help diagnose sleep apnea and provide treatment such as lifestyle changes or using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which administers gentle air pressure to keep airways open as you sleep.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

RLS is an urge to move your legs when they’re at rest. It can come with an unpleasant sensation plus aches and pains in the legs, which are relieved by movement like kicking or walking. This sometimes affects people as they’re falling asleep and can make it difficult to fall asleep.

The exact cause is unknown but there may be genetics involved as it sometimes runs in families. RLS may also be linked to underlying conditions like kidney failure, pregnancy, or iron deficiency anemia so treating these can relieve RLS. Treatment may involve lifestyle changes or medication.

These are just four of the many sleep disorders that exist. The SleepFoundation.org provides information on other sleep disorders such as parasomnias and sleep-wake disorders.

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