Common Sleep Disorders

While many people blame sleeping problems on worrying too much, there are often physical ailments at the root cause. Here are some of the more common sleep disorders:

Sleep Apnea
A person with sleep apnea regularly stops breathing during sleep for 10 seconds or longer (an occasional stop in breathing is normal). Apnea episodes can happen from as few as five times per hour to as many as 50 times an hour. People who have sleep apnea may be at greater risk for developing high blood pressure, depression, irregular heart rhythms, heart disease and stroke.

Narcolepsy
People with narcolepsy suffer from uncontrollable sleepiness, very vivid daytime dreams, "sleep paralysis," and brief loss of muscle control that may cause falling. While narcolepsy is as common as multiple sclerosis, it is rarely diagnosed. In most cases, it can be treated.

Periodic Movements of Sleep
Up to 10 percent of the population may have regular, repeated and uncontrollable leg jerks as they sleep. Periodic limb movement disorder and restless leg syndrome result in arousals and/or disturbances in sleep. Medical treatment is usually effective.