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Sleep Disorders

Key points

Good sleep is essential for our health and emotional well-being.

Getting enough sleep and good sleep quality are essential for healthy sleep.

The amount of sleep you need changes as you age.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have problems sleeping.

Sleep disorders are conditions that affect the quality, amount and timing of sleep you’re able to get at night. Common sleep disorders include insomnia, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy and sleep apnea. Sleep disorders can affect your mental health and physical health. Treatment is available to help you get the rest you need.

What are sleep disorders?

Sleep disorders are conditions that make it hard to get good sleep. They are not just one-off problems but ongoing issues. These disorders can make it tough to fall asleep, stay asleep, or feel very tired during the day.

Sleep disorders include many different problems, such as:

Category Examples

Insomnia	Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
Sleep Apnea	Breathing interruptions during sleep
Circadian Rhythm Disorders	Disruptions to the body’s internal sleep-wake cycle
Parasomnias	Abnormal behaviors during sleep, such as sleepwalking or night terrors
Hypersomnia	Excessive daytime sleepiness or prolonged nighttime sleep
Sleep Deprivation	Insufficient sleep due to lifestyle factors or underlying conditions

Many things can cause sleep disorders, like stress, health issues, medicines, and bad sleep habits. Not treating sleep disorders can cause serious health problems. These include heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and depression. It can also hurt your brain and make you feel very tired during the day.

It’s important to know the signs of a sleep disorder. If you always have trouble sleeping or feel very tired during the day, even after sleeping enough, see a sleep doctor. They can help figure out what’s wrong and find the right treatment for you.

Getting enough sleep?

Everyone needs sleep. It’s an essential part of what makes our bodies function. The amount of sleep you need might be more or less than others, but experts recommend adults get seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Optimal sleep time varies by age; for example, children and teenagers may need more sleep than adults.

The daily recommended hours of sleep you need changes as you age.

Age Group	Age	Sleep Hours per day
Newborn	0–3 months	14–17 hours
Infant	4–12 months	12–16 hours (including naps)
Toddler	1–2 years	11–14 hours (including naps)
Preschool	3–5 years	10–13 hours (including naps)
School age	6–12 years	9–12 hours
Teen	13–17 years	8–10 hours
Adult	18–60 years	7 or more hours
Adult	61–64 years	7–9 hours
Adult	65 years and older	7–8 hours

How common are sleep disorders?

Sleep disorders vary widely, each with its own symptoms and challenges. Insomnia, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy are among the most common. Knowing about these conditions is key for better sleep and health.

Insomnia

Insomnia makes it hard to fall or stay asleep, even when you have enough time. It leads to tiredness, mood swings, and poor performance. It can be short-term or long-term, caused by stress, anxiety, or bad sleep habits.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious disorder where breathing stops many times during sleep.

There are two main types:

TypeDescription

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)	Caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep.
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)	Occurs when the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe due to instability in the respiratory control center.

Symptoms include loud snoring, gasping for air, and feeling very tired during the day. Untreated, it can cause heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy affects the brain’s sleep-wake cycles. It causes extreme daytime sleepiness, sudden sleep attacks, and cataplexy (muscle loss due to strong emotions). Other symptoms include sleep paralysis and hallucinations.

Other sleep disorders like restless leg syndrome and parasomnias can also affect sleep. Getting professional help is vital for diagnosis and treatment.

All Sleep Disorders

Abnormal Sleep Behavior Disorders

Bruxism

Central Sleep Apnea

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders

Excessive Sleepiness

Hypersomnia

Insomnia

Narcolepsy

Night Terrors

Non-24-Hour Sleep Wake Disorder

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Parasomnias

Periodic Limb Movements Disorder

Rhythmic Movement Disorder

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)

Shift Work Disorder

Sleepwalking

Sleep Apnea

Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders

Sleep-Related Movement Disorders

Sleep Paralysis

Health benefits of sleep

Sleep disorders can deeply affect our health and happiness. Untreated, they can lead to chronic diseases and mental health issues. It’s important to understand how poor sleep quality impacts our health.

Increased Risk of Chronic Diseases

People with sleep disorders face a higher risk of serious diseases. Lack of sleep can lead to heart problems, like high blood pressure and heart attacks. It also increases the chance of getting type 2 diabetes by affecting how our body handles sugar.

Sleep DisorderAssociated Chronic Diseases

Insomnia	Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity
Sleep Apnea	Hypertension, heart disease, stroke
Narcolepsy	Obesity, depression, anxiety

Mental Health Concerns

Sleep disorders can harm our mental health too. Not getting enough sleep can lead to depression, anxiety, and mood swings. The link between sleep and mental health goes both ways. Mental health issues can make sleep problems worse, and sleep disorders can worsen mental health.

Decreased Quality of Life

Sleep disorders affect more than just our health. They can make us feel tired, irritable, and unable to focus. This can make everyday tasks hard, hurt our relationships, and take away from enjoying life. Treating sleep disorders can greatly improve our quality of life and make us feel better.

By focusing on sleep health and getting the right treatment, we can lower our risk of chronic diseases, boost our mental health, and live a better life.

Sleep Hygiene Tips for Better Sleep Quality

Getting good sleep is key for your health and happiness. Healthy sleep habits help you fall asleep fast and sleep well. Here are some tips to make your sleep better:

First, make your bedroom a sleep haven. Your mattress and pillows should be comfy. Keep it dark, quiet, and cool, around 60-67°F (15-19°C). Use blackout curtains, earplugs, or a white noise machine if it’s too bright or loud.

Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. This helps your body get into a sleep rhythm. Adults should aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night.

Have a calming bedtime routine to tell your body it’s time to sleep. This could be a warm bath, reading, or soft music. Don’t watch TV or use phones an hour before bed because the blue light can mess with your sleep.

Sleep Hygiene TipBenefit

Maintain a cool, dark, and quiet bedroom	Promotes relaxation and better sleep quality
Stick to a consistent sleep schedule	Regulates the body’s internal clock for easier sleep
Create a relaxing bedtime routine	Signals the body to wind down for sleep
Limit electronics before bed	Reduces stimulation and blue light exposure

Also, think about your day. Exercise is good, but do it a few hours before bed. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and big meals before bed. If you can’t sleep in 20 minutes, get up and do something calm until you’re tired.

By focusing on sleep hygiene and making small changes, you can sleep better and feel healthier. Remember, better sleep leads to better days.

Symptoms of Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders can show up in many ways, affecting sleep at night and daily life. It’s important to know these signs to find and treat sleep problems. Common symptoms include:

Difficulty Falling or Staying Asleep

People with insomnia find it hard to fall or stay asleep. They might lie awake for hours or wake up a lot. This can make them feel tired and upset.

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness

Feeling very sleepy during the day is a sign of sleep disorders like sleep apnea and narcolepsy. Even after a full night’s sleep, they might feel tired and struggle to stay awake.

Irregular Breathing During Sleep

Sleep apnea causes pauses in breathing during sleep, often with loud snoring. These issues can make it hard to sleep well and cause headaches, dry mouth, and trouble focusing during the day.

Unusual Sleep Behaviors

Parasomnias include sleep disorders like sleepwalking and talking, night terrors, and REM sleep behavior disorder. These behaviors can be scary and dangerous for the person and their partner.

Sleep DisorderKey Symptoms

Insomnia	Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or both; daytime fatigue
Sleep Apnea	Irregular breathing during sleep, loud snoring, daytime sleepiness
Narcolepsy	Excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden sleep attacks, cataplexy
Parasomnias	Unusual behaviors during sleep (e.g., sleepwalking, sleep talking)
Hypersomnia	Prolonged nighttime sleep, difficulty waking up, daytime sleepiness

If you often feel these symptoms, talk to a doctor. They can check if you have a sleep disorder and suggest treatments to help you sleep better and feel better overall.

How are sleep disorders diagnosed?

If you think you or a loved one might have a sleep disorder, getting professional help is key. Sleep experts use different tools and methods to check sleep patterns. They look for any issues that might be causing sleep problems.

A sleep study, or polysomnography, is a common test. Patients spend the night in a sleep lab. There, their brain waves, heart rate, and breathing are monitored. This test can find many sleep disorders, like sleep apnea and narcolepsy.

Actigraphy is another tool used. It’s a small device worn on the wrist. It tracks movement and sleep-wake cycles over time. This helps spot sleep disruptions.

Sleep specialists also ask patients to keep sleep logs. These logs track sleep patterns, daytime symptoms, and sleep influencers. This info, along with sleep study and actigraphy data, gives a full picture of sleep health.

If you’re having trouble sleeping, talk to a sleep disorder specialist. The right diagnosis and treatment can help you sleep better. This can improve your overall health and well-being.

Risk Factors for Developing Sleep Disorders

Many factors can raise the chance of getting sleep disorders like insomnia, sleep apnea, and circadian rhythm disorders. Knowing these risk factors helps people prevent them and get help when needed.

Age

As we get older, our sleep changes. This makes older adults more likely to have sleep disorders. For example, insomnia is more common in older people because of less melatonin and more sensitivity to noise.

Lifestyle Factors

Some lifestyle choices can hurt sleep quality and raise the risk of sleep disorders. Working shifts, irregular sleep, and too much screen time before bed mess with our natural sleep rhythms. This can lead to sleep deprivation and health problems.

Other lifestyle factors that may lead to sleep disorders include:

Smoking

Too much alcohol

Not enough exercise

Poor sleep habits

Medical Conditions

Some medical conditions can make sleep disorders more likely. For example, people with obesity are more at risk for sleep apnea. This is a disorder where breathing stops and starts during sleep. Other conditions that can affect sleep include:

Medical ConditionAssociated Sleep Disorder

Chronic pain	Insomnia
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)	Sleep disturbances
Mental health disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression)	Insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders
Neurological disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s)	Sleep fragmentation, excessive daytime sleepiness

By knowing the risk factors for sleep disorders, people can keep their sleep healthy and deal with any medical issues. If you think you or a loved one might have a sleep disorder, see a doctor for help.

Treatment Options for Sleep Disorders

There are many ways to manage sleep disorders and get better sleep. The right treatment depends on the sleep disorder, like insomnia or sleep apnea. Treatment plans usually mix lifestyle changes, medicines, and therapy to tackle the root causes and symptoms.

Lifestyle Changes

Healthy lifestyle changes can greatly improve sleep and reduce sleep disorder symptoms.

Some good changes include:

Lifestyle ChangeBenefit

Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule	Helps regulate the body’s internal clock
Creating a relaxing bedtime routine	Promotes a calming transition to sleep
Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine before bed	Reduces stimulating effects that can interfere with sleep
Exercising regularly, but not close to bedtime	Improves sleep quality and duration

Medications

Medicines can help treat certain sleep disorders. For insomnia, sedative-hypnotics can help you fall and stay asleep. For narcolepsy, stimulants can fight daytime sleepiness. People with sleep apnea often use CPAP devices to keep airways open.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is a top treatment for sleep issues. It focuses on changing thoughts and habits that mess with sleep. CBT-I helps you develop better sleep habits and ways to handle sleep worries. It’s great for chronic insomnia and can lead to lasting sleep improvements without needing medication all the time.

Prevention

Can sleep disorders be prevented?

You can’t prevent all types of sleep disorders, but you can reduce your risk by practicing good sleeping habits (sleep hygiene).

What should I avoid to get better sleep?

You should avoid the following three to four hours before bedtime if you want to improve your sleep:

Caffeinated drinks such as soda, tea and coffee

Tobacco

Alcohol

Naps after 3 p.m.

Chocolate

Heavy meals

Prognosis

What can I expect if I have a sleep disorder?

Sleep disorders can affect your overall health. You may not have the energy to do the things you want to do or even complete your daily routine. You may miss out on special moments or events because your sleep disorder prevents you from being fully present. In addition, you may put yourself and others at risk, especially if you drive or operate heavy machinery and aren’t getting the rest you need to stay safe.

If you’re struggling to get quality sleep where you wake up feeling refreshed, talk to a healthcare provider. Treatment is available to manage many sleep disorders and get you back to wellness.

How long do sleep disorders last?

There isn’t a specific time limit as to when a sleep disorder will stop affecting you. You may be able to find a treatment that makes you feel better within weeks to months. Others may need to manage the condition throughout their lifetime. Talk to your healthcare provider about your specific outlook.

Living with sleep disorders

If you often find it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep, it’s time to get help. Sleep disorders like insomnia, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy can really hurt your life and health. They make it hard to enjoy your day and feel good.

Think about seeing a doctor or sleep specialist if you have these problems for more than a few weeks:

Sleep DisorderSymptoms

Insomnia	Difficulty falling asleep Waking up frequently during the night Waking up too early and being unable to fall back asleep Feeling unrefreshed upon waking
Sleep Apnea	Loud snoring Gasping or choking sounds during sleep Morning headaches Excessive daytime sleepiness
Narcolepsy	Overwhelming daytime drowsiness Sudden sleep attacks Sleep paralysis Vivid hallucinations when falling asleep or waking up

A sleep specialist can do a detailed check-up. This might include a sleep study. Don’t let sleep disorders ruin your life. Getting help is the first step to better sleep and health.

The Future of Sleep Disorder Research and Treatment

Researchers are finding new ways to diagnose and treat sleep disorders. New technologies like wearable devices and mobile apps help track sleep. These tools give doctors valuable data for better treatment plans.

Personalized medicine is becoming more common in sleep disorder research. Doctors look at a person’s genes, lifestyle, and health history. This way, treatments can be made just for each person, improving their quality of life.

Scientists are working on new medicines and therapies for sleep disorders. Current treatments work for many, but more options are needed. They’re exploring new drug targets and non-drug treatments like neurostimulation. This could lead to better sleep and health for those with sleep disorders.

The future of sleep disorder research and treatment looks bright. Advances in technology and personalized medicine are making progress. As research continues, those with sleep disorders can hope for better days. By focusing on sleep disorder research and awareness, we can all get the rest we need.

FAQ's

Q: What are the most common types of sleep disorders?

A: Common sleep disorders include insomnia, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy. Restless leg syndrome and circadian rhythm disorders are also common. These can affect sleep quality and daily life.
Q: What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

A: Sleep apnea symptoms include loud snoring and gasping for air. You might also feel very tired during the day. Morning headaches and trouble focusing are other signs. Untreated, it can cause serious health issues.
Q: How is insomnia diagnosed and treated?

A: Doctors use sleep history and logs to diagnose insomnia. They might also do sleep studies. Treatment includes lifestyle changes and sometimes therapy or medication.
Q: What are parasomnias?

A: Parasomnias are sleep disorders that cause unusual behaviors. This includes sleepwalking and talking. They can be dangerous and often need medical help.
Q: How does sleep deprivation affect mental health?

A: Not getting enough sleep can harm your mental health. It can lead to depression and anxiety. It’s key to get enough sleep for your mental well-being.
Q: What lifestyle changes can improve sleep quality?

A: To sleep better, keep a regular sleep schedule. Make your sleep area dark and comfy. Avoid caffeine and alcohol at night. Exercise regularly and try relaxation techniques.
Q: When should I seek professional help for a sleep disorder?

A: If you have trouble sleeping or feel very tired, see a doctor. They can help you find the right treatment. A sleep specialist can give you a proper diagnosis and plan.

One Final Note..

Sleep disorders affect your quality of life. They can disrupt your thinking, school or work performance, mental health and physical health. Common sleep disorders prevent you from getting the restful, deep sleep you need to function at your best. If you’re struggling with your sleep, don’t hesitate to see a healthcare provider. Your health and, therefore, quality of life depends on good sleep. Practice good sleep hygiene and follow your healthcare provider’s instructions to feel better sooner.
Not getting a good night’s sleep can leave most people tired, irritable, and cranky. Not sleeping well for several days on end can have more serious consequences as it can affect your physical and mental health, work, relationships, and ability to function.
If you suspect you or a loved one might have a sleeping disorder, it’s important to visit a healthcare provider for a diagnosis and treatment. Your primary care provider can refer you to a sleep specialist, if needed. There are treatment options that can help.

Sleep Resources

Several organizations offer information and resources about sleep and sleep health.

Some of these organizations and their resources are described below.

American Academy of Sleep Medicine

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) is a professional society for medical professionals and researchers who work to improve sleep health.

Resources include publicly available sleep education tools for patients, sleep medicine toolkits, clinical practice guidelines, and consensus statements for medical professionals. For members only, resources include trainings and webinars, continuing education certifications, and professional development opportunities.
National Center on Sleep Disorders Research

The National Center on Sleep Disorders Research (NCSDR) is a federal center in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health that supports research and education related to sleep disorders and the promotion of sleep health.

Patient resources include guides to healthy sleep, information about sleep deficiency, and videos on sleep disorders. For health care provides, resources include sleep publications and funding opportunities for sleep and sleep disorder research.
National Sleep Foundation

The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health and well-being through sleep education and advocacy.

Resources include easy-to-follow tips for healthier sleep, blog articles related to sleep health, and educational campaigns for the general public. For health care providers, resources include guidelines and recommendations for sleep health, research publications on various aspects of sleep health, and research tools.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is a federal agency in the U.S. Department of Transportation dedicated to preventing injuries from road traffic crashes through education, research, safety standards, and enforcement.

Resources include information about drowsy driving, helpful tips to avoid falling asleep while driving, and data on car crashes and deaths from drowsy driving.
Sleep Education

Sleep Education is a webpage from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

Resources include easy-to-understand information about sleep, sleep disorders, and treatment options for parents, educators, patients, and students.
Sleep Research Society

The Sleep Research Society (SRS) is a scientific organization of sleep researchers who study and teach others about the science of sleep.

Resources include publicly available podcasts on the latest sleep research and publications on various sleep and health topics. For members only, resources include educational webinars and courses, annual training seminars, and professional development opportunities.
Information on participating in clinical research on sleep

Alzheimers.gov Clinical Trials Finder (NIA): Search for clinical trials to advance sleep and dementia research among older adults.

Clinical Trials on Sleep (NICHD): Search for clinical trials that are actively recruiting participants to advance sleep research

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Most recent revision June 30, 2025 08:08:49 PM

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