Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders are conditions that impair your ability to sleep well on a regular basis. These disorders can be caused by various factors, including physical, psychological, and environmental influences. Here are some of the most common types of sleep disorders:

Insomnia: Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early and not being able to go back to sleep. It can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).
Sleep Apnoea: A potentially serious disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. The two main types are obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), where the throat muscles intermittently relax and block the airway, and central sleep apnoea, where the brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.
Narcolepsy: A chronic sleep disorder characterized by overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sudden attacks of sleep. People with narcolepsy often find it difficult to stay awake for long periods, regardless of the circumstances.
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS): A condition characterized by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, usually because of an uncomfortable sensation. It typically happens in the evening or nighttime hours when you’re sitting or lying down.
Circadian Rhythm Disorders: Disruptions in the internal body clock that regulates the 24-hour cycle of biological processes. Common examples include jet lag, shift work sleep disorder, and delayed sleep phase disorder.
Parasomnias: A group of sleep disorders that involve unwanted events or experiences that occur while you are falling asleep, sleeping, or waking up. Examples include sleepwalking, night terrors, and REM sleep behavior disorder.
Hypersomnia: A condition characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness. It can include prolonged nighttime sleep or difficulty staying awake during the day.
Bruxism: Grinding or clenching of teeth during sleep, which can lead to various dental and jaw problems.
Sleep-Related Movement Disorders: Disorders that involve physical movements that disturb sleep. Besides RLS, this category also includes periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), which involves repetitive limb movements during sleep.