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Types of sleep disorders
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening disorder in which the airway narrows. It may be accompanied by a lack of oxygen and a disruption of deep sleep.
Narcolepsy
Although the exact cause is not known, narcolepsy appears to be a disorder of the part of the brain that controls sleep. It is defined by constant sleepiness and a tendency to sleep at inappropriate times.
Restless Leg Syndrome
People with restless leg syndrome experience very unpleasant sensations that occur in the legs while sitting or lying still, especially at bedtime. The uncomfortable feeling of restless leg syndrome appears most often in the calves and affects a person's ability to sleep at night and function normally during the day.
Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
This is the involuntary movement of the legs during sleep. People may not be aware of the disturbance but many brief awakenings do disturb sleep and cause excessive daytime sleepiness.
Parasomnias
The term parasomnia describes a wide range of disruptive, sleep-related events. The most common of the parasomnias include sleepwalking and sleep tremors. In these cases, the sleeper is awake enough to act out complex behaviors but is still asleep and not aware of his or her activity.
Insomnia is the chronic inability to fall or stay asleep. Insomnia is not a sleep disorder but a symptom of another problem. Insomnia can be caused by a number of factors such as stress, use or misuse of sleeping pills, shift work, medications, and poor sleep habits.
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