SLEEP DISORDERS

PRIMARY DISORDERS OF DAYTIME SLEEPINESS

Persistent and excessive daytime sleepiness. The person may doze repeatedly during the day, often at inappropriate times such as during a meal, or in the middle of a conversation. The most common disorders in this category include narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia.

GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX

Stomach acid comes up into the esophagus. This can cause frequent sleep interruptions.

SLEEP DISORDERED BREATHING

Repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep that cause low blood oxygen levels and frequent interruptions of sleep. The most common example is Sleep Apnea.

PARASOMNIAS

Sleep is interrupted during critical stages, often causing abnormal nighttime behaviors such as sleep-walking, sleep terrors, and violent outbursts. These episodes are rarely remembered by the individual.
Learn more about parasomnias.

INADEQUATE SLEEP HYGIENE

A form of insomnia caused mainly by bad habits prior to bedtime. This is usually easily corrected by making a few simple changes to daily and bedtime routines.

PERIODIC LIMB MOVEMENT DISORDER

A neurological condition that results in inappropriate leg or arm movements during sleep. These movements can disrupt sleep enough to cause daytime symptoms.

RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME

Very unpleasant “creepy crawly” sensations that usually occur prior to bedtime. The constant need to stretch or move the legs in order to get rid of these sensations can prevent one from falling asleep.

DELAYED SLEEP PHASE SYNDROME

The sleep/wake cycle is abnormally delayed by two or more hours from what is considered “normal”, leading to difficulty falling asleep at night and difficulty awakening in the morning.

INSOMNIA

Difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep. Insomnia is common in adults, and when present is almost always a symptom of another disorder. Common causes of insomnia include stress, anxiety, depression, chronic medical or surgical illness, or chronic pain.

NOCTURNAL SEIZURES

Seizures (epilepsy) that occur during sleep. Sleep quality is usually poor as a result of these episodes.

ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDERS

Learn more about the relationship between ADD/ADHD and sleep on ADD/ADHD page.