Sleeping Disorders

While scientists don’t understand everything about the importance of sleep, it clearly influences how you feel when you are awake. Those who have trouble sleeping because of a sleep disorder can have difficulty dealing with school, work and relationships when awake.

From restless leg syndrome to insomnia, living with sleeping disorders can be like living a nightmare. Learn to spot the signs of the most common sleeping disorders so that you can rest easier.

Many people have problems falling asleep, staying asleep or simply sleeping well. More than 50% of the American population encounters sleep difficulties at some point in their lives. Sleeping Well During the Holidays Anyone preparing holiday festivities knows that all that hustle and bustle can put a damper on a good night’s sleep. Join experts as they share some helpful seasonal tips.

According to statistics, many teens spend one-third of their day sleeping ” meaning that by the age of 15, you will have spent about five years of your life asleep. That seems like a lot, but it is not wasted time. Sleepiness is associated with inability to concentrate, remember or think. There is also increased risk in falling asleep while doing vital tasks such as driving or using heavy machinery. Medical treatment involves weight loss if the patient is overweight, avoidance of drugs, which increase the risk of apneas such as sleeping pills, alcohol and sedative medicines, and sometimes sleeping semi-upright.

Throwing sleeping pills at many patients with chronic insomnia is not an effective way to treat the problem.

Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS): inability to awaken and fall asleep at socially acceptable times but no problem with sleep maintenance, a disorder of circadian rhythms. Other such disorders are advanced sleep phase syndrome (ASPS) and Non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome (Non-24), both much less common than DSPS.

Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD): Sudden involuntary movement of arms and/or legs during sleep, for example kicking the legs. Due to rapidly increasing knowledge about sleep in the 20th century, including the discovery of REM sleep and sleep apnea, the medical importance of sleep was recognized. The medical community began paying more attention than previously to primary sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, as well as the role and quality of sleep in other conditions.

Snoring is not a disorder in and of itself, but it can be a symptom of deeper problems.

More serious sleep disorders include sleep apnea, in which someone temporarily stops breathing during sleep, or chronic insomnia, in which someone regularly has difficulty falling asleep. The Web links included on this page offer more information about these and other problems. If you think you suffer from one of these disorders, please see your doctor.

Many adolescents actually have a common sleep disorder called a delayed sleep phase syndrome.