Sleep Disorders and
Explanations
Sleep apnea
occurs when a person’s breathing cycle stops and then restarts
while he or she is trying to sleep at night; causing interruptions
in sleep. There are three types of sleep apnea: Obstructive, Central
and Mixed. Many people suffering from sleep apnea are not aware
of their condition.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
occurs when a person’s airway becomes blocked by the tongue,
or excess tissue surrounding the throat; therefore, resulting in
a loss of oxygen to the body. Some common symptoms of OSA are snoring,
breathing pauses and restless sleep.
Central Sleep Apnea
occurs when the brain fails to signal designated muscles to begin
breathing, and usually occurs in older patients.
Mixed Sleep Apnea
is a combination of Central Sleep Apnea and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
Narcolepsy a person
suffering from narcolepsy will fall asleep unexpectedly many times
during the day. A nervous system disorder involving the REM phase
of sleep is usually to blame for this disorder. Symptoms may include
hallucinations, muscle weakness and immobility.
Chronic Insomnia a
person suffering from chronic insomnia may find it impossible to
fall or stay asleep during the night. Some possible causes of Chronic
Insomnia may include stress, anxiety, depression and pain.
Daytime Sleepiness
hinders a person’s ability to perform normal daily tasks,
either at work or at home, because of extreme fatigue due to a possible
sleep disorder. A person with daytime sleepiness may receive a total
of eight hours of sleep a night.
Restless Leg
Syndrome a condition when a person has the uncontrollable
urge to move their legs. The sufferer has difficulty falling asleep
and may experience daytime sleepiness.
Periodic Limb
Movement (PLMS)
consists of twitching in the legs and sometimes
arms during sleep. These muscle jerks may occur as often as once
or twice a minute for an hour or two at a time. This disorder may
not fully awaken the sleeper but it does prevent sound sleep.
Parasomnias
are sleep disorders that include:
Somnambulism (sleep walking)
Enuresis (bed wetting)
Night terrors
Nightmares
Nocturnal seizures
Bruxism (teeth grinding)
Jactatio
capitis nocturnis (head banging)
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