Sleep Disorders

If you are having problems sleeping, you are not alone.

In fact, a survey by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) in 2005 revealed that 75 percent of adults had at least one symptom of a sleep problem and that 54 percent experienced at least one symptom of insomnia - they either cannot get to sleep or cannot maintain being asleep.

Some other statistics on the prevalence of Sleep Disorders include:

• It is estimated that 30 to 40 percent of Americans suffer from insomnia occasionally, with 10 to 15 percent having chronic insomnia problems. 
• About 40 percent of adults have a snoring problem and they are not the only ones suffering as their spouses also suffer disruption of their sleep 
• Between 2 to 4 percent of the population suffer from sleep apnea, a condition in which a person experience pauses in breathing during their sleep. 
• Another 5 to 10 percent of people have restless leg syndrome (RLS), a condition of unpleasant tingling sensation in their legs at night which can cause pain. 
• An NBC News report on 4th March, 2008 reported that 29% of the population find themselves sleepy at work. 
• The same NBC report also revealed that 20% of the people said that lack of sleep resulted in less sex in their lives.

The Symptoms and Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation as a result of a sleeping disorder can have serious consequences.

Sleep deprivation affect virtually all aspects of our lives and some of the consequences resulting from sleep deficiency include the following:

• Insufficient sleep could result in Obesity. 
• Sleep deprivation could lead to Diabetes. 
• Other consequences of poor sleep include Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure and Stroke. 
• Your memory could be affected by the lack of sleep and you may face potential concentration problems. 
• People who have lack of sleep are more moody and irritable. 
• There is a higher rate of accidents and injuries amongst sleep-deprived persons. 
• Sleep deficency also lead to lower efficiency and lower job performance. 
• Marital and social problems could arise due to sleep deprivation.
• Some sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea can be life-threatening.

Common Sleep Disorders

On this website, we cover some of the more common sleep disorders. However, the list is not exhaustive. If you would like to have a detailed classification and description of all the known sleep disorders, we recommend that you look at The International Classification of Sleep Disorders: Diagnostic and Coding Manual, available from the American Sleep Disorders Association and from Amazon.com.

Insomnia

This is the most common sleep disorder. It is characterized by the inability to fall asleep at night, or waking up earlier than you would like, resulting in an insufficient amount of sleep. Those suffering from insomnia do not feel that they have rested after their sleep. As a result, they may feel daytime fatique and tireness and are easily irritable, restless as well as having feelings of anxiety and hence stress.

Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or Sleep Apnoea, is characterized by obstruction of the upper airway during sleep, causing the cessation of breathing for 30 to 90 seconds at a time. This can happen as many as 600 times every night! The pauses in breathing are alternated by lud snores or brief gasps for air and often with movements of the whole body. People who suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea are extremely sleep-deprived and often experience excessive sleepiness during the day.

Snoring

About 40 percent of adults snore. Snoring occurs when your airway narrows to the extent that it causes the walls of your throat to vibrate as you breathe. If the airway narrows completely, breathing may stop altogether, as in Sleep Apnea, causing you to gasp for air and wake up temporarily. While simple snoring is not life-threatening, it can severely disrupt the sleep of your partner and may be worth treating.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder caused by the brain sending sleep-inducing signals resulting in recurring episodes of unavoidable sleep - literally, of "sleep attacks." These attacks can occur unpredictably at times that may not be appropriate to sleep such as while driving, having a converstaion or eating.

Restless Legs Syndrome

This sleep disorder causes unpleasant aching, tingling or itching sensations shortly before or just after a person gets into bed. This causes an irresistable urge to move the legs. The person may experience pain and discomfort. Having Restless Legs Syndrome or RLS may often lead to involuntary limb movements not only during sleep but possibly during the day as well. The sufferer may feel depressed and intensely anxious.

Sleep Walking 

Sleep Walking, or somnambulism, is the experience in which the brain remains partially asleep but the body is capable of movement and activity. This happens usually one to two hours after falling asleep. Sleepwalking can be triggered by emotional upsets, fever or sleep deprivation. 

We hope that this website will be able to provide you with a better understanding of Sleep Disorders and perhaps help you improve the quantity as well as the quality of your sleep.