Introduction to Sleep Disorders

Almost everyone will experience some sort of sleep disorder during their lifetime.

Many people accept poor sleep as a way of life, but better sleep can prevent disease. People who get treated are often astounded at the improvement in their quality of life.

Overview of Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders are medical problems that interfere with sleep by reducing the quality of sleep, reducing the amount of sleep, and/or causing sleepiness at abnormal times of the day. In some cases it is not the disorder that is the problem, but rather society's norms of when we should be awake to socialize and work.

Common sleep disorders:

  • Parasomnias: these involve abnormal movements, behaviors, emotions, perceptions, and dreams that are due to partial arousal from sleep. Examples include sleep-walking, night-terrors, teeth-grinding, restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder.
  • Sleep apnea: sufferers stop breathing during sleep then awake with a gasp. This can occur hundreds of times a night. It can be caused by obstructions in the airway (obstructive sleep disorder) or by problems with the central nervous system (central sleep apnea).
  • Circadian rhythm disorders: where the body clock is offset from what is considered normal – i.e., not feeling tired until the early hours of the morning but desiring to sleep in until noon (delayed sleep phase syndrome). Work and socializing mean that sufferers do not get enough sleep.
  • Insomnia: An inability to get to sleep or stay asleep. It is not uncommon to be diagnosed with insomnia when actually another sleep disorder is causing the problem (e.g., restless legs syndrome).
  • Narcolepsy: characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, falling asleep suddenly and uncontrollably, and paralysis of some or all motor muscles.

Causes of Sleep Disorders

Some are caused by intrinsic (internal) factors such as the shape and size of our throat, while some are extrinsic (external) like jet lag, or excessive caffeine intake. Some are primary (not linked to other diseases) while others are secondary – caused by other diseases or the medication we take for those diseases. Some are more prevalent in children, males, or certain families and races, while others affect almost anyone. Finally, some are fairly benign and require little treatment while others can significantly shorten life and the ability to enjoy life.

Treatment of Sleep Disorders

The first step is recognizing the issue as a disorder that needs treatment. Often people are aware that they don't sleep well because of the tiredness they feel during the day or the frustration they have while lying awake at night. It is also common for the bed partner of the sufferer to know that sleep problems exist. However many people just accept that their sleep is poor. Whether this is a reluctance to visit their doctor, a failure to realize that most sleep disorders can be treated successfully, or that good sleep can make a huge difference to health and life is unclear.

Treatment first revolves around diagnosis – questionnaires, sleep diaries, and a sleep test are common ways to identify the sleep disorder. Many treatments are just behavior changes that make a world of difference, but medical devices and medication are also key to the successful treatment of some disorders.

The first step is to talk to your doctor or sleep specialist about concerns you may have. The difference that good sleep makes should be enough to overcome any hesitations you may have.