Many people are affected by sleep-related difficulties. Below, we’ve outlined the 7 most common sleep disorders. If you experience any of these symptoms, see a sleep medicine provider to get the appropriate treatment. To find out more, read our articles about parasomnias, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea. Read on to learn more about each.
Insomnias
Although the exact cause of parasomnias is not yet known, these conditions are often associate with other sleep disorders. For example, sleep apnea sufferers frequently talk during sleep. People with restless leg syndrome (RLS) may also experience parasomnias. Some studies have shown that genetic factors are involve in the development of parasomnias. Symptoms of parasomnias can be characterized by the following:
Confusional arousals occur during sleep and cause people to become confused or act in unusual ways. While parasomnias are not cause by sleepwalking, they can be frightening to people around them. A common parasomnia is sleep talking, which occurs several times during the same sleep cycle. Although sleep talking does not require treatment, it is a sign of another condition. While parasomnias are generally harmless, it is important to seek medical attention if you experience them.
Narcolepsy
This disease affects the human body’s circadian rhythm, or the process of sleep, and can result in sudden loss of consciousness. Individuals with narcolepsy may experience frequent sleep episodes, with each episode lasting about two to four hours. As a result, they may experience lapses in attention. Patients with narcolepsy often experience brief naps that make them feel refreshed but cause them to become sleepy within hours. Artvigil 150 is a medication that is used to treat sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and shift work sleep disorder.
A person with narcolepsy may experience a sudden and total loss of voluntary muscle tone (cataplexy). Cataplexy is a condition in which a person experiences periods of partial or total loss of muscle tone, often triggered by intense emotional reactions. Cataplexy symptoms can vary in severity and can range from knees to eyelids to a complete loss of muscle control.
Restless Legs Syndrome
Restless legs syndrome is a neurological condition that results in an uncontrollable urge to move the legs while you are lying down or sitting. This disorder is not a medical emergency but can be a chronic and disruptive condition that can affect your work, home, and life. It is common among women, middle-aged adults, and those with genetic risk factors. Luckily, restless legs syndrome can be treat with medication or lifestyle changes.
The best way to diagnose restless legs syndrome is to consult a sleep doctor. During the consultation, the doctor will ask you questions about your past medical history, such as whether you have taken any medications. During the appointment, the physician may also ask you to keep a sleep diary for two weeks, as this can help to pinpoint the exact cause of restless legs. He or she may also order blood tests to determine whether the problem is sleep-related.
Obstructive sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops during the night. As a result, the airway is narrow and the person experiences repeated pauses in breathing. While you are sleeping, the blocked airway causes a buildup of carbon dioxide in the body. The symptoms of OSA include daytime sleepiness, impaired attention, depression, sexual dysfunction, and even a higher risk of motor vehicle accidents. Other common complications of OSA include heart disease and high blood pressure.
Waklert 150 is known used for wakefulness-promoting drug that is primarily used to treat excessive sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and shift work sleep disorder.
During a sleep study, your doctor will examine your heart, lungs, and neurological system. If these are normal, you will be consider free of OSA. In some cases, you may not have any symptoms at all. Symptoms of OSA may include excessive daytime sleepiness and weight gain. A doctor will use a special machine to keep the airway open while you sleep. A continuous positive airway pressure machine will push air through a mask over your mouth while you sleep. Or, you may choose a mouthpiece designed to hold the jaw forward.
Disorder of REM sleep behavior
People with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) experience nightmare-like episodes during sleep. The movements may be small but appear purposeful and range from benign hand gestures to violent thrashing, punching, and kicking. They may also make noises, including screams and vocalizations. In rare cases, the patients may sustain injuries by jumping out of bed or striking their bed partner. These episodes can last anywhere from a few seconds to hours or even days.
REM sleep behavior disorder occurs during the REM stage of sleep, usually after 90 minutes. In severe cases, the condition can cause serious distress and interfere with functioning. People with REM sleep behavior disorder may even injure themselves or their bed partners. These episodes can cause social problems as well as lead to isolation. However, two-thirds of couples with REM sleep behavior disorder continue to sleep together despite the dangers of a disturbed night’s sleep.
