Types of Sleep Disorders

Click on buttons below for a definition of each sleep disorder.

OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA (OSA)

DEFINITION:
Sleep apnea means the "Cessation of breath". The airway becomes obstructed during sleep, making it difficult to breathe. These episodes of upper airway obstruction can occur repetitively during the night. They can result in reductions in oxygen levels, as well as constant awakenings.

CAUSES:
There are many causes of sleep apnea. Being overweight is one of them. Another cause of sleep apnea is a narrow throat, which could be a result of a large tongue, uvula, or tonsils. Obstruction can occur in the nasal passages also. Sometimes the structure of the jaw is a factor in sleep apnea as well.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS:

• Loud snoring
  
• Others hear pauses in your breathing
  
• Low energy level/excessive daytime sleepiness
  
• Wake up with a dry mouth
  
• Have headaches in the morning
  
• Wake self up gasping for air
  
• High blood pressure
  
• Overweight
  
  

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CENTRAL SLEEP APNEA (CSA)

DEFINITION:
Cessation of breathing without an obstruction present. The body actually forgets to breathe. The person may inhale at regular intervals, but finds it difficult to exhale. This type of sleep apnea is not followed by loud snoring, which differentiates it from OSA. Instead, the person may have audible breathing.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS:
The signs and symptoms of CSA are very similar to those of OSA except patients who have OSA have loud snoring.
The symptoms of these disorders are so similar; a sleep test will need to be performed to identify which type of sleep apnea you have.

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RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME (RLS)

DEFINITION:
Restless Legs Syndrome is a disorder characterized by uncomfortable sensations in the legs. These sensations compel the patient to move his legs to achieve relief.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS:

• "Creepy-Crawling" feelings in the legs
  
• Urge to constantly move your legs
  
• Tension intensifies when resting or on car rides
  
• Moving your legs delays the onset of sleep
  
• A burning or pulling sensation in your legs
  

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PERIODIC LIMB MOVEMENTS

DEFINITION:
Involuntary rhythmic leg movements that occur during sleep, and can cause many awakenings during the night.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS:

• Legs cramping at night
  
• Awaken to sore muscles
  
• Others notice you kick at night
  
• Covers in disarray in the morning.

It is not uncommon for patients to experience both Periodic Limb movements and Restless Legs.

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INSOMNIA

DEFINITION:
The inability to initiate or maintain sleep.
There are different types of insomnia.
Onset insomnia: Difficulty falling asleep

Maintenance insomnia:

* waking up frequently during the night, unable to fall back to sleep.

* waking up too early in the morning.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:

• Difficulty falling asleep
  
• Thoughts racing through your mind that prevent you from falling asleep
  
• Daytime sleepiness
  
• Lack of concentration
  
• Waking up earlier in the morning than you would like, or than that is necessary
  
• Feeling sad or depressed
  
• Waking up in the night and not being able to go back to sleep
  
• Worrying and not being able to relax
  
• Anticipating problems going to sleep almost every night
  

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NARCOLEPSY

DEFINITION:
Patients exhibit attacks of daytime drowsiness and decreased daily functioning.

Narcoleptics may experience:
Cataplexy: Muscle weakness with emotion
Sleep paralysis: Patient wakes up with the inability to move
Hypnagogic hallucinations: Audible or visual hallucinations in wake-sleep transitions

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS:

• Excessive Sleepiness
  
• Sudden muscle weakness
  
• Vivid dreamlike scenes upon falling asleep or awakening
  
• Naps are refreshing
  

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PARASOMNIAS:

REM BEHAVIOR DISORDER (RBD)
Not much is known about this disorder. Normally people are unable to move during REM sleep. People who suffer from RBD do not become "paralyzed" during REM sleep like everyone else. Muscle inhibition in REM is absent in this disorder. Those who suffer from RBD move vigorously during this sleep stage, and may unintentionally cause harm to themselves or others.

SLEEPWALKING
This disorder is normally found in children, and most patients will outgrow the disorder. In sleepwalking the patient is not dreaming and has no recollection the following morning. Sleepwalking usually occurs in the first third of the night, due to the stage of sleep it occurs in. It is very difficult to wake a person up who is sleepwalking.

SLEEP TERRORS
Sleep terrors are different from nightmares because the frightening dreams are not remembered. Sleep terrors usually occur in the first third of the night due to the stage of sleep they occur in. Patients wake up panicked, and the arousal from sleep often occurs by hearing themselves screaming or crying out. They wake up feeling terrified but do not recall why. This sleep disorder is predominately found in children because the amount of time spent in this sleep stage decreases with maturation.

BRUXISM
Teeth grinding during sleep. It tends to effect men and women equally. Bruxism peaks at adolescence.

NOCTURNAL SEIZURES
Seizures are described as repetitive, inappropriate behaviors that occur up to three times during the night. According to some estimates, seizures occur during sleep or on arousal from sleep in nearly 80% of epileptics. Having a sleep test performed could help diagnose a seizure disorder, even if a seizure does not occur in the lab. Spikes in the brainwaves that occur between seizures can also be detected in the sleep-wake transition in epileptic patients.

HEADBANGING
Headbanging is characterized by rhythmic forward and backward motions of the head, which may be accompanied by body rocking. The rhythmic motions of headbanging may resemble seizures.

There are 2 factors that help differentiate headbanging from epilepsy.
1. Headbanging occurs at sleep onset, whereas seizures typically occur later in the night.

2. A headbanging episode may last over an hour.

ENURESIS
"BED WETTING" Some possible causes include having a small bladder or delayed development. Enuresis appears to have a genetic link.

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DISCLAIMER:The information provided is not intended to be medical advice. If you suspect you have a sleep disorder you should seek care from a qualified professional.