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Sleep Disorders Center
The Top 11 Sleep DisordersLearn about the different sleep disorders and find the help you need at our Sleep Disorders Centers. There are more than 180 different sleep disorders. Here are the 11 most common:1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): You have OSA when air cannot flow into or out of your lungs because of an obstruction, such as enlarged tonsils or the tongue falling back. If you have OSA, you will stop breathing repeatedly for brief periods throughout the night. During these periods, you are aroused out of sleep. 2. Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS): UARS is not an obstruction like OSA. However, there is enough resistance on your airflow that you briefly, but repeatedly, rouse from deep sleep throughout the night. 3. Chronic Insomnia: Insomnia is the most common sleep complaint. Insomnia means you may have trouble falling asleep at bedtime and/or have trouble staying asleep at night. Often, it is caused by stress, tension, shift work, poor sleep habits, or psychological problems like anxiety or depression. 4. Inadequate Sleep Hygiene: If you have this disorder, you cannot sleep because bad habits during the day and at bedtime are preventing you from getting a good night’s rest. These habits may include sleeping somewhere other than in your bed, frequent daytime napping, sleeping with the television on, too much caffeine or not adhering to a consistent sleep/wake schedule. 5. Obesity/ Hypoventilation Syndrome: If you are obese, you can have reduced movement of your chest wall due to the weight of your abdomen. This can substantially reduce breathing, resulting in a decreased ability to oxygenate the blood. 6. Periodic Limb Movement Syndrome (PLMS): People with this disorder experience involuntary movements of the arms and legs while sleeping. The abrupt movements, which occur about every 30 seconds, trigger the brain to become aroused while the person is sleeping, therefore disturbing the normal sleep cycle. 7. Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS): If you have itchy sensations and discomfort in the legs while falling asleep, you may have RLS. This disorder includes a constant need to stretch or move the legs to get rid of the discomfort and prevents a good night’s sleep. 8. Narcolepsy: Narcolepsy causes you to be extremely sleepy during the day even though you may have gotten an adequate amount of sleep the previous night. The excessive sleepiness will cause you to fall asleep very quickly, usually at inappropriate times. 9. Idiopathic Hypersomnolence: People with Idiopathic Hypersomnolence, or “unexplained, excessive daytime sleepiness,” will have symptoms similar to narcolepsy. But with narcolepsy, a person feels refreshed after a nap, while with idiopathic hypersomnolence a person never feels rested. 10. Shift Work Disorder: If you work late shifts, you will probably sleep fewer hours than usual. This affects the amount of deep sleep you get, making you feel unrefreshed when you wake up. This can affect your performance at work and, after a prolonged period, you may develop chronic sleep disturbances. 11. Nocturnal Seizure Disorder: If you have sleep-related seizures, you may experience abrupt awakenings at night, unexplained urinary incontinence, tongue biting or abnormal movements during sleep. Often, you won't realize you have this disorder, but you may experience excessive daytime sleepiness and an inability to concentrate during the day. This happens because you are having seizures through the night that are disrupting your sleep cycle.
Need Help?
Call 610-402-CARE (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday) to talk to nurses and other experts who can help you find a doctor and more. This page last updated 10/16/08 08:57 AM
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