Need to learn more about sleep disorders? Sleep problems, including snoring, sleep apnea, insomnia, sleep deprivation, and restless legs syndrome, are common among millions of Americans. It’s important to understand why sleep is necessary for optimal health, how the natural hormone melatonin affects sleep and wakefulness, and how the different states and stages of sleep impact sleep quality, quantity, and sleep dreams.
Symptoms & Types
Yawn during long meetings? Turn off the snooze to catch a little extra shut-eye? These may be symptoms of a sleep disorder. Here you’ll find additional information on the different types of sleep disorders and their symptoms and when you should see a doctor.
Symptoms
Common Sleep Disorders Symptoms
Learn the symptoms of four common sleep disorders.
Sleep Disorder Quiz
See if your symptoms signal a sleep disorder.
Physical Side Effects of Oversleeping
Is oversleeping getting in the way of your day? WebMD explains what can happen -- the physical side effects -- of getting too much sleep.
You May Have a Chronic Sleep Disorder If …
Wake up refreshed? Always alert? If not, you may have a sleep disorder.
Insomnia Symptoms
There are a variety of symptoms associated with insomnia, some of which can also occur with certain medical conditions. Learn more here.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Learn about six common sleep apnea symptoms.
Restless Legs Syndrome Symptoms
Feel tingling or "crawling" sensations deep within your legs? Find out if your symptoms may be restless legs syndrome.
Narcolepsy Symptoms
Narcolepsy is characterized by four general symptoms. Find out what they are.
Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder Symptoms
When the sleep-wake cycle goes awry, it affects the whole body. Check out these nine symptoms.
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Symptoms
People with this mysterious disorder are often violent. Find out more.
Periodic Limb Movement Disorder Symptoms
Wake Up With Jaw Pain?
You may be grinding your teeth during sleep. Find help.
Sleepwalking Symptoms
Sleepwalking symptoms aren’t as obvious as they may seem. Get the details here.
Night Terrors Symptoms
Night terrors are more than bad nightmares. Find out how to tell the difference.
Bedwetting Symptoms
Some bedwetting symptoms suggest a psychological or medical problem.
At some time, most of us have experienced what it’s like to have trouble falling asleep, to lie awake in the middle of the night, or feel sleepy and fatigued during the day. However, when sleep problems are a regular occurrence—when they get in the way of your daily routine and hamper your ability to function—you may be suffering from a sleep disorder.
Sleep disorders and other sleeping problems cause more than just sleepiness. Poor quality sleep can have a negative impact on your energy, emotional balance, productivity, and health. If you’re experiencing sleeping problems, learn about the signs and symptoms of common sleep disorders, what you can do to help yourself, and when to see a doctor.
Signs and symptoms of sleep disorders and sleeping problems
Everyone experiences occasional sleeping problems. So how do you tell whether your sleeping problem is just a minor, passing annoyance or a sign of a more serious sleep disorder or underlying medical condition?
Start by scrutinizing your symptoms, looking especially for the telltale daytime signs of sleep deprivation. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms on a regular basis, you may be dealing with a sleep disorder.
Causes
There are more than 100 different sleeping and waking disorders. They can be grouped into four main categories:
Problems falling and staying asleep (insomnia)
Problems staying awake (excessive daytime sleepiness)
Problems sticking to a regular sleep schedule (sleep rhythm problem)
Unusual behaviors during sleep (sleep-disruptive behaviors)
PROBLEMS FALLING AND STAYING ASLEEP
Insomnia includes trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Episodes may come and go, last up to 3 weeks (be short-term), or be long-lasting (chronic).
PROBLEMS STAYING AWAKE
People with excessive daytime sleepiness feel tired during the day. Symptoms that are not caused by a lack of sleep or interrupted sleep are called hypersomnia.
Causes of this problem include:
Medical conditions such as fibromyalgia and low thyroid function
Mononucleosis or other viral illnesses
Narcolepsy and other sleep disorders
Obesity
When no cause for the sleepiness can be found, it is called idiopathic hypersomnia.
PROBLEMS STICKING TO A REGULAR SLEEP SCHEDULE
Problems may also occur when you do not stick to a regular sleep and wake schedule. This occurs when people travel between time zones and with shift workers who are on changing schedules, especially nighttime workers.
Disorders that involve a disrupted sleep schedule include:
Irregular sleep-wake syndrome
Jet lag syndrome
Paradoxical insomnia (the person sleeps a different amount than they think they do)
Shift work sleep disorder
SLEEP-DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIORS
Abnormal behaviors during sleep are called parasomnias. They are fairly common in children and include:
Sleep terrors
Sleepwalking
REM sleep-behavior disorder (a person moves during REM sleep and may act out dreams)
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