Common Sleep Disorders: What Keeps Us Up At Night

Common sleep disorders, most common sleep disorders, common sleep disorders in children, common sleep disorders in adults. As reported by the American Psychiatric Association, the most common sleep disorders are major disruptions of ordinary sleep patterns that cause stress and disrupt performance during the day. Not only are the most common sleep disorders issues extremely common, impacting practically everyone at some point in their lives, but they can also lead to significant emotional stress and other health implications.

Based on an important study by the National Sleep Foundation, more than half of Americans described experiencing at least one of the common sleep disorders more than once weekly in the previous year. Highlighting another major danger of sleep disorders, the survey also reported that Sixty percent of respondents had driven a vehicle even though sleepy during the previous year.

Insomnia:

Insomnia is definitely the most frequent sleep issue, impacting almost 60 percent of U.S. adults at least one night weekly. Typical symptoms of insomnia consist of difficulty getting to sleep and waking before it’s time to get out of bed. There are many aspects that can contribute to insomnia such as stress and underlying health concerns. Typical remedies include sleeping pills and behavior therapy. Practicing beneficial sleep habits can often be successful for treating mild cases of insomnia.

Sleep Apnea:

Sleep apnea is the second most frequent sleep problem and impacts approximately Twenty million Americans. This condition causes people to cease breathing abruptly when they’re sleeping. During this short period, carbon dioxide accumulates in the blood and the individual awakens suddenly to gasp for breath. The length of time the sleeper quits breathing can vary from a couple of seconds to so long the individual’s skin actually turns blue from oxygen deprivation.

Sleepwalking & Night Terrors:

Although insomnia and sleep apnea tend to be more frequent in adults, other sleep disorders like sleepwalking and night terrors are much more frequent in small children. Sleepwalking, also called somnambulism, is indicated by times of getting out of bed while sleeping.

Night terrors are commonly observed in very young children (between the ages of 2 and 6), but individuals of all ages can be impacted by this sleep disorder. Common symptoms include excessive sweating, trembling and noticeable fear.

Narcolepsy:

Narcolepsy is a neurological sleep issue leading to intervals of intense sleepiness during the daytime. People suffering from narcolepsy frequently experience rounds of overwhelming drowsiness and may fall asleep for brief intervals through the day. These sleeping intervals may last from a few seconds to several minutes and in some cases can last as much as an hour or more. People with narcolepsy can fall asleep in the middle of a discussion, during a meal or possibly while driving a vehicle.

Affecting as many as 250,000 Americans, narcolepsy is a chronic problem that normally starts during adolescence. Along with sleepiness, narcolepsy is often coupled with cataplexy, which involves a sudden loss of muscle tone and control that may last seconds or minutes. Some other symptoms may include hallucinations and also paralysis during sleep.