Psychology Facts

▼ Sleep Disorders ▼

》Sleep disorders are conditions that affect the quality, amount and timing of sleep you're able to get at night. Common sleep disorders include insomnia, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy and sleep apnea. Sleep disorders can affect your mental health and physical health. Treatment is available to help you get the rest you need.

》There are over 80 sleep disorders that impact:
How well you sleep (quality).
When you fall asleep and if you can stay asleep (timing).
How much sleep and wakefulness you get (quantity or duration).

》The categories of sleep disorders have changed many times over the years. Most recently, the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD) categorized sleep disorders based on the symptoms.

》The brand-new revision to the third edition, ICSD-3R includes the following categories:

Insomnia: You have difficulty falling and staying asleep.

Sleep-related breathing disorders: Your breathing changes while you sleep.

Central disorders of hypersomnolence: You have trouble feeling alert during the day.

Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders: Your internal clock makes it difficult to fall asleep and wake up on time.

Parasomnias: Physical actions or verbal expressions happen during sleep like walking, talking or eating.

Sleep-related movement disorders: Physical movements or the urge to move makes it difficult to fall asleep and/or stay asleep.

》The most common sleeping disorders include:

Chronic insomnia: You have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep most nights for at least three months and feel tired or irritable as a result.

Obstructive sleep apnea: You snore and have moments during sleep when you stop breathing that disrupt your sleep.

Restless legs syndrome: You have the urge to move your legs when you rest.

Narcolepsy: You can't regulate when you fall asleep or how long you stay awake.

Shift work sleep disorder: You have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep and feel sleepiness at unwanted times due to your work schedule.

Delayed sleep phase syndrome: You fall asleep at least two hours after your desired bedtime and have difficulty waking up in time for school or work.

REM sleep behavior disorder: You act out your dreams while in the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep.

》More than 50 million people in the United States have a sleep disorder. In addition, more than 100 million Americans of all ages report that they don't get an adequate amount of sleep.

》What are the symptoms of sleep disorders
Symptoms of common sleep disorders vary based on the type, but could include:

Difficulty falling asleep or it takes more than 30 minutes to fall asleep regularly.

Trouble staying asleep through the night or you wake up often in the middle of the night and can't fall back asleep.

Snoring, gasping or choking happens during sleep.

Feeling like you need to move when you relax.

Movement relieves this feeling.

Feeling like you can't move when you wake up.

》During the daytime, you may experience additional signs and symptoms caused by a lack of adequate sleep including:

Daytime sleepiness; you take frequent daytime naps or fall asleep while doing routine tasks.

Behavioral changes like difficulty focusing or paying attention.

Mood changes like irritability and trouble managing your emotions.

Difficulty meeting deadlines or performance expectations during school or work.

Frequent accidents or falls.

》What causes sleep disorders?

A symptom of a medical condition like heart disease, asthma, pain or a nerve condition.

A symptom of a mental health condition like depression or anxiety disorder.

Genetic factors (a mutation).

A side effect of a medication.

Working the night shift.

Substance use before bedtime like caffeine or alcohol.

Low levels of certain chemicals or minerals in the brain.

An unknown cause.

》A lack of adequate sleep can lead to:

Difficulty learning, remembering or making decisions.

Personality changes like irritability.

Lower reaction times (making accidents more likely to happen).

》Sleep loss can also contribute to the development of health conditions like:

Depression.
Obesity.
Type 2 diabetes.
Heart disease.
Dementia.

While rare, some sleep disorders can be life-threatening.

》How are sleep disorders diagnosed?

A healthcare provider will diagnose a sleep disorder after a physical exam to review your symptoms and testing.

Tests can help your healthcare provider learn more about what's causing your symptoms like blood tests or imaging tests.

They may ask you to keep a sleep diary. A sleep diary is a record of your sleeping habits. You'll make note of when you go to bed, when you fall asleep and when you wake up each day.

》If you feel like you're not able to get a good night's rest or have symptoms that interfere with your daytime activities, talk to a healthcare provider.