What are sleep disorders and how common are they?
Sleep disorders are conditions that prevent a person from getting restful sleep and, as a result, can cause daytime sleepiness and dysfunction. There are as many as eighty different types of sleep disorders that have been identified and classified. Overall, about 70 million Americans suffer from a sleep disorder.
The most common sleep disorders are:

Sleep apnea

Restless legs syndrome

Narcolepsy

Insomnia

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a very serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night.  When a person stops breathing, their vital organs such as the heart, brain, kidneys, etc. are deprived of the life-sustaining oxygen they need to function properly.  Left untreated sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, heart attack, uncontrolled diabetes and even stroke.

What is restless legs syndrome?

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sleep disorder which causes tingling, pulling, creeping, and sometimes even painful sensations in the legs at night. This sensation is thought to be brought on by resting such as lying down in bed or sitting for prolonged periods (e.g. while driving or sitting in a theatre). RLS typically occurs in the evening, making it difficult for sufferers of RLS to fall asleep. Often, people with RLS take walks and shake their legs in an effort o relieve this uncomfortable sensation.

What is narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that affects the brain’s control of sleep and wakefulness. People with narcolepsy experience excessive daytime sleepiness and intermittent, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep during the daytime. 

Referred to as ‘sleep attacks’ these sudden sleep episodes may occur during any type of activity and at any time of the day and are not related to how much sleep a person has had the night before. Narcolepsy usually begins between the ages of 15 and 25, but it can become apparent at any age.

What is insomnia?
Insomnia is a sleep disorder with two main classifications or types.  The first type is difficulty initiating, or falling asleep.  The second type is difficulty maintaining sleep. People with insomnia have one or more of the following symptoms:

difficulty falling asleep

waking up often during the night and having difficulty going back to sleep

waking up too early in the morning

having non-restful sleep

having at least one daytime problem such as fatigue; sleepiness; problems with mood, concentration; accidents at work or while driving, etc.

Insomnia varies in how long it lasts and how often it occurs. Insomnia can be short-term (acute insomnia) or can last a long time (chronic insomnia). It can also come and go, with periods of time when a person has no sleep problems. Acute insomnia can last from one night to a few weeks. Insomnia is called chronic when a person has insomnia at least three nights a week for a month or longer.

How are sleep disorders diagnosed?

If you think that you may have a sleep disorder, discuss your symptoms with your primary care doctor. He or she can perform a physical exam and help you identify the difficulties you are having with sleep. You can also take the brief sleep quiz that appears on this website and share the results with your doctor.  Keeping a sleep diary for two weeks may also be helpful.

It’s important to know that some illnesses and even routine medications you are taking can cause disturbed sleep.  Be sure to tell your physician about all the medications you are taking, even the over-the-counter ones.

If your doctor suspects that you have a sleep disorder, he or she may refer you to a sleep disorder clinic for overnight diagnostic testing.