What are some common Sleep Disorders?

Sleep Apnea or Obstructive Snoring

Loud snoring is a sign that something is wrong with your breathing during sleep. Snoring is a result of your airway partially closing and the noise is a result of your body forcing air through the narrow airway and causing the tissues lining the passageway to vibrate. Light snoring in many cases has no serious consequences. However, loud snoring is the first indication of the potentially life-threatening disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. In those with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, the narrowing of the airway is so great that it becomes difficult or impossible to breathe. The brain realizes that there is a problem breathing and partially awakens to open the airway. Breathing then returns to normal.

As soon as breathing is re-established the body relaxes and resumes sleeping. As the airways narrow, effort increases and the brain is aroused from sleep again. This cycle repeats over and over, sometimes hundreds of times each night. Typically these awakenings are so brief that they are not remembered but they do cause the person to be tired or sleepy the next day. Read More...

Insomnia (The inability to fall asleep or to remain asleep)

Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep is a problem for many adults. The results of insomnia will affect both your wake and the sleeping hours. During the day you feel sleepy and have trouble focusing on tasks and goals. At night you cannot easily get to sleep or stay asleep. You toss and turn and become more stressed and anxious about not sleeping. As a result you find sleep becoming even more remote. It is common for adults to suffer insomnia for a night or two when we are excited, stressed or have other physical ailments. But if the condition continues over several nights you need to seek help from a sleep specialist. Read More...

Restless Leg Syndrome / Period Limb Movement Disorder

Those with restless legs syndrome describe the feeling as an unpleasant “creepy, crawly” feeling that occurs when they are sitting or lying still, especially at bedtime. It is not like the pain of a leg cramp or the numbness of a leg “falling asleep”. It is just an uncomfortable feeling that urges you to move the leg. Often the result of these leg movements will prevent the person from falling asleep.

Restless legs may limit the time the person is able to sit still in an automobile, airplane, or in a business meeting without standing or moving around. Another form of restless legs is periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD). Periodic limb movement disorder causes the limbs, legs or arms to jerk and move during sleep. It is involuntary and will cause the person to awaken many times during the night without them being aware they are awake. Read More...

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is defined as constant sleepiness and the tendency to sleep at inappropriate times. Its impact on a person’s life can be significant and even disabling. Typically the person with narcolepsy suffers sleep attacks as well as continual sleepiness and tiredness that are not completely relieved by any amount of sleep. Read More...

Some more related material (Click the link below to open PDF)

Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome Epilepsy Fibromyalgia GERD Insomnia Jet lag Narcolepsy Obstructive Sleep Apnea Restless Legs Syndrome Shift Worker REM-Behaviour Disorder Sleepdiary Sleep Hygine Tips Stimulus Control Instruction