Types of Sleep Disorders

TYPES OF SLEEP DISORDERS

Much of the rest of the course talks about sleep disorders; however, we will talk briefly about these in this chapter as well. Sleep complaints are extremely common, with a third of individuals not getting enough regular sleep. Anxiety and depression will trigger sleep disorders in some people, while others are born with sleep problems. Poor sleep hygiene contributes to many sleep disorders as well.

Insomnias involve a difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. It is the most common sleep disorder and can lead to sleep deprivation the next day. The symptoms of sleep deprivation can last for many days or years, depending on how severe the sleep disorder is. Insomnia can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease later in life and can lead to diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders happen to people who have a sleep-wake cycle that is not considered normal or healthy. These people sleep in the daytime and are awake at night, which is not typical of healthy sleep. Quality of life is affected and energy levels are low with difficulty concentrating. The most common circadian rhythm disorder is jet lag, which usually passes within a few days. Blind people can also have a circadian rhythm sleep disorder.

Hypersomnias are disorders of too much sleep. The patient cannot seem to get enough sleep and they sleep longer than 9 hours without feeling rested. Some of the problem can be due to sleep apnea, which interferes with adequate sleep. Some people can have idiopathic hypersomnia that is distinct from other causes of hypersomnia. Narcolepsy is a type of hypersomnia.

Parasomnias involve abnormal behaviors that happen during sleep. These can occur particularly during sleep transitions from one stage to the next. There is REM sleep disorder, where the person yells or moves violently in REM sleep. There is sleep paralysis, involving being unable to move when waking up or going to sleep. Sleepwalking is another form of parasomnia. Some people can have “exploding head syndrome”, where hey hear a loud noise that jolts them awake as they are getting up or falling asleep. Bedwetting is a parasomnia of childhood that is usually outgrown.

There are several sleep-related movement disorders that can happen in the middle of sleep or during transitions. Some of these include bruxism or the grinding of teeth in sleep, restless leg syndrome, and periodic limb movement disorder. These often result in sleep deprivation because the person has difficulty falling or staying asleep. These are somewhat rate but are seen in certain populations to a greater degree.

Sleep-related breathing disorders involve difficulty breathing at night or abnormal breathing patterns during sleep. Chronic snoring, central sleep apnea, and obstructive sleep apnea are three different types of sleep-related breathing disorders. Snoring may be simply a symptom of sleep apnea. The quality of sleep is poor so there are daytime difficulties and health problems related to poor sleep. Health problems seen in these disorders include a risk of stroke, heart attacks, high blood pressure, obesity, and low blood oxygen levels.