Sleep Disorders

What are Sleep Disorders?

Sleep disorders indicate that you have a problem with either the timing of your sleep, the amount of sleep you get, or your sleep quality. Sleep disorders impact your day, as well as your night. They can cause you to have impairments to normal functioning and distress during the day. Insomnia is a common sleep disorder. Other typical sleep disorders may include restless leg syndrome, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea. In some cases, there have been links between other physical and mental problems. Sleep disorders can make mental health conditions worse.

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If you have insomnia, you usually have a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep. If you have sleep apnea, you often have abnormal breathing patterns while you sleep. Restless leg syndrome includes discomfort in the legs and a desire to move your legs while falling asleep. Narcolepsy is when you suddenly fall asleep during the day.

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Sleep disorder studies are tested to determine if you have a sleep disorder. These studies can help to create a plan for addressing a particular sleep disorder. Sleep disorder studies record numerous body functions while you sleep. This includes oxygen levels, heart rate, breathing, and brain waves. It records your leg and eye movements. This study is mostly performed overnight at a sleep center. It can be done during the day for those who work shifts and sleep more often during the day.

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There are some typical signs of someone suffering from a sleep disorder. These include irregular breathing, sleepiness during the day, and a lot of movement while you sleep. Other signs include difficulty falling asleep and a poor sleep / wake cycle.