Types of Sleep Disorders

This is a neurological movement disorder characterized by abnormal, uncomfortable stinging in the legs that typically occurs or worsens when a person is at rest. If you struggle with RLS, you may experience a near-constant “pins and needles” feeling that results in the constant moving of your legs and prevents you from having a restful sleep.

OSA is a disorder that occurs when air cannot flow in or out of your nose or mouth while sleeping even though efforts to breathe continue. This is caused by mechanical and structural problems in your airway that cause interruptions in breathing (i.e., your throat muscles and tongue relax, or you have an excessive amount of tissue in the airway). If you suffer from OSA, you may experience choking sensations during sleep, and your condition is likely accompanied by snoring between apnea episodes.

Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder. If you deal with it, you may be unable to initiate or maintain sleep, and you may also experience daytime fatigue and sleepiness. Insomnia is often the result of stress, illness, environmental factors, or other conditions that throw off a normal sleep schedule. It is important to establish good sleep habits as part of your insomnia treatment.

A disorder that manifests itself through excessive daytime sleepiness, narcolepsy consists of uncontrollable sleep attacks and muscle weakness. If you have narcolepsy, you may see it triggered by sudden emotional reactions such as laughter or fear or sometimes accompanied by vivid dreamlike scenes or paralysis upon falling asleep or waking.

These disorders are accompanied by symptoms of insomnia or sleepiness at inappropriate times. You may be prone to struggle with this if you work a rotating schedule, suffer from jet lag, or have insufficient sleep syndrome. Unfortunately, these disorders can become progressive and chronic, but you can also treat them with medication and therapy.

If you suffer from chronic fatigue disorder, you may have an ongoing feeling of tiredness, malaise, sleepiness, boredom, or depression. This can have various causes and is sometimes associated with a sleep disorder.

Parasomnias are sleep disorders that may include nightmares, chest pain, night terrors, sleepwalking, and sleep talking. They are most common in childhood, but sometimes worsen as you grow into an adolescent and adult.