What Are the Most Common Sleep Disorders?

Sleep disorders are medical conditions that have an effect on the way we sleep and affect our overall health and well-being, safety, and quality of life. Sleep disorders can leave us feeling excessively tired during the day, even though we felt like we had a decent night’s sleep. Many of us may not realize we have a sleep disorder, just that we feel tired all the time. This can be caused by irregular breathing patterns that disrupt our sleep, increased movement of our body while we sleep, and other physical or mental ailments that are affecting our ability to get a good night’s sleep. The good news is that sleep disorders are treatable once they are properly diagnosed. Symptoms of a sleep disorder can include feeling tired all the time, having trouble falling asleep at night, falling asleep outside of normal sleep times, unusual breathing patterns while sleeping, having an urge to move your body while trying to sleep, an irregular cycle of sleeping and waking, and movements or experiences that are unusual or bothersome while you’re sleeping. Your family doctor or a sleep specialist can help you get to the root of your sleep issues and determine if you do have a sleep disorder and what the correct course of treatment should be based on your symptoms and condition.

Sleep deprivation has many negative consequences on our health and wellness, as well as our quality of life and safety. When we sleep, it allows our body and mind time to recharge, heal and grow. Our brains use the downtime of sleeping to shape our memories and form connections of the events, experiences, and feelings that we encountered while we were awake. The brain needs sleep in order to function properly and not getting enough sleep can impair our ability to be able to focus, think clearly and retain memories. Insufficient sleep can also cause mood swings, reduced cognitive abilities, and delayed reactions, which can be particularly dangerous when operating a motor vehicle or performing any type of physical task that has a risk of injury if you aren’t paying attention. In the case of some diseases and medical conditions, a lack of sleep has been shown to put people at a higher risk for developing the disease or condition. This is the case for obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, mental health issues, and premature death. Our bodies will adapt to chronic sleep deprivation and lead us to believe that there isn’t anything wrong with us as we become accustomed to a constant state of feeling tired.

Types of sleep disorders

While we may experience the occasional disruption due to changes in our life or an upcoming event that has us excited, nervous, or worried, sleep disorders are different in that they are often chronic conditions. Having the odd night or couple of nights here and there where you have struggled with sleep may not be cause for alarm. People can suffer from many different types of sleep disorders. Sleep disorders can be categorized in different ways as a way to explain how the body is affected by them or why the disorders happen.
Some of the most common sleep disorders include:

– Insomnia is characterized by having difficulty with falling asleep or being able to stay asleep through the course of the night.
– Sleep apnea affects our breathing patterns while we sleep and can cause us to stop breathing for a period of time while asleep.
– Restless leg syndrome is a sleep movement disorder that gives us the urge to move our legs due to an uncomfortable sensation felt in them while we try to fall asleep.
– Narcolepsy causes extreme tiredness throughout the day and can cause sufferers to suddenly fall asleep at inappropriate and dangerous times, such as while driving.

The good news is that most sleep disorders are treatable once they have been correctly diagnosed by your primary care physician or a sleep specialist. Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders is home to a leading team of leading healthcare professionals who are here to help treat your sleep disorder. Contact us through our website today and get your health back on track.