Common Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders include, but are not limited to any medical conditions that usually prevent a person from having restful sleep. This may result in daytime sleepiness, as well as sleep dysfunction.

At this time, an estimated eighty types of different sleep disorders exist. However, the most common among these include: sleep apnea narcolepsy, insomnia, and restless legs syndrome.

Insomnia

Is a sleep disorder that involves having difficulties in staying or falling asleep. Experiencing daytime problems like fatigue, problems with concentration, mood, or sleepiness may cause poor performance and at times put you at risk of getting into accidents while driving or at work. Insomnia will vary in the number of times it occurs, as well as the frequency in which it occurs. In general, about 50% of all adults face occasional bouts of insomnia; 1 in 10 of these suffers from chronic insomnia. This condition can stem from psychiatric or medical conditions, or occur by itself. 

It may be short term, also called adjustment or acute insomnia, or long term, lasting years. Adjustment insomnia may last from one night to a couple of weeks, while chronic insomnia occurs when the sufferer has at least three sleepless nights over the course of a week, repeatedly.

Sleep Apnea

Is a potentially serious sleep disorder that occurs when the breathing of a person is interrupted as they sleep. When left untreated, the sufferer may even stop breathing repeatedly, as they sleep. Sleep apnea usually occurs in two forms, central and obstructive apnea. CSA (central sleep apnea) is a result of the inability of the brain to send signals for the lungs to breathe. It is called central sleep apnea since it is technically associated with the central nervous system. Obstructive sleep apnea is as a result of blockage of the airways to the lungs, normally when the soft tissues behind the throat collapse as a person sleeps; this is the more common of the two.

Restless Legs Syndrome

(or RLS) Is a sleep disorder which causes a rather intense and often uncontrollable compulsion to move the legs. Resting activities such as sitting for long periods, and laying down in bed and sitting for long, causes some sensations to move the legs. Restless legs syndrome basically occurs during the evening hours, thereby making the person have a hard time trying to sleep.

Narcolepsy

Is a neurological disorder that affects sleep regulation. It makes the sufferer unable to control sleep and wakefulness. Patients with narcolepsy usually experience intermittent, uncontrollable incidences where they fall asleep during the day. Such sleep attacks may happen regardless of the activity the person is involved in or time of day.

Diagnosing Sleep Disorders

If you think you have a sleep disorder, please visit Bay Ridge Sleep and Diagnostic Center to discuss your symptoms. One of our trained clinicians will perform a physical exam and identify the causes for your difficulties in sleeping. We may ask that you keep a sleep diary for about two weeks, in order to help us diagnose your case. If a sleep disorder is suspected, or diagnosed, we may suggest that you undergo a sleep study, like a Polysomnogram, or sleep study test. This test will electronically record and transmit the various physical activities of the body while you sleep, allowing us to best treat your sleep issues.
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