Definition
Sleep disorders involve any difficulties related to sleeping, including difficulty falling or staying asleep, falling asleep at inappropriate times, excessive total sleep time, or abnormal behaviors associated with sleep.
Symptoms
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Definition
Sleep disorders involve any difficulties related to sleeping, including difficulty falling or staying asleep, falling asleep at inappropriate times, excessive total sleep time, or abnormal behaviors associated with sleep.
Symptoms
- Awakening in the night
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Excessive daytime drowsiness
- Loud snoring
- Episodes of stopped breathing
- Sleep attacks during the day
- Daytime fatigue
- Depressed mood
- Anxiety
- Difficulty concentrating
- Apathy
- Irritability
- Loss of memory (or complaints of decreased memory)
- Lower leg movements during sleep
The symptoms may vary with the particular disorder.
Causes
More than 100 different disorders of sleeping and waking have been identified. They can be grouped in four main categories:
- Problems with falling and staying asleep
- Problems with staying awake
- Problems with adhering to a regular sleep schedule
- Sleep-disruptive behaviors
PROBLEMS WITH FALLING AND STAYING ASLEEP
Insomnia includes any combination of difficulty with falling asleep, staying asleep, intermittent wakefulness and early-morning awakening. Episodes may be transient (come and go), short-term (lasting as long as 2 to 3 weeks), or chronic (long-lasting).
Common factors associated with insomnia include:
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Treatment
INSOMNIA
The treatment is related to the cause, if the cause can be determined. If there is an obvious physical or psychological disorder causing insomnia, it should be treated. Depression is a very common cause of insomnia and can usually be treated with medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, or interpersonal therapy.
Attempts to control environmental and lifestyle factors should be made; these factors include:
- Erratic hours of wakefulness
- Too much light
- Too much noise
- Too much caffeine or other stimulants
Sleeping drugs should be used only when prescribed by a health care provider.
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Possible Complications
A complication is dependence upon sedatives or other medications prescribed for sleep disorders.
Outlook (Prognosis)
The outcome varies with the type of disorder. Some disorders may clear up on their own.
Prevention
Maintaining regular sleep habits and a quiet sleep environment may prevent some sleep disorders.
Exams and Tests
- Polysomnography (recording brain activity, muscle activity and breathing during sleep)
- Multiple sleep latency test -- a daytime test that uses polysomnography during multiple brief nap periods
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