Common Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders are becoming more common. They include any condition that affects your sleep quality, when you sleep or how long you sleep. Sleep disorders affect your ability to properly function while awake. They can contribute to other medical problems, both psychological and physical. More than 100 specific sleep disorders have been identified.

Common sleep disorders include one or more of the following symptoms:

You have trouble falling
You have trouble remaining asleep
You find it difficult to stay awake during the day
There are imbalances in your circadian rhythm that interfere with a healthy sleep schedule
You are prone to unusual behaviors that disrupt your sleep

The following are some common sleep disorders that our sleep medicine can help with:

Insomnia

It is characterized by the recurring difficulty to fall or remain asleep, possible excessive daytime sleepiness or other cognitive impairments while awake. Up to one-third of adults live with some form of insomnia.

Sleep apnea

It occurs due to blockage of the upper airway that often causes people to wake up choking or gasping for air and can cause excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue, as well as various cognitive impairments.

Restless Leg Syndrome

It is characterized by odd sensations in the legs, and the powerful urge to move them while at rest and affects seven to ten percent of people.

Narcolepsy

It is characterized by feeling excessively tired during the day despite getting an adequate amount of rest at night. It causes an urge to sleep and even actual sleeping that typically last for a few minutes.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

It is characterized by sudden body movements and vocalizations while a person experiences vivid dreams during REM sleep. Relatively rare, affecting between 0.5 to 1 percent of adults.