Seven Types Of Sleep Disorders

Getting enough sleep is essential to one's health and well-being. Without ample sleep, the body and mind are unable to recover from the demands placed on the body throughout the day. During sleep, muscles heal, hormones are released into the body and new synaptic connections in the brain are made for memory and learning. Unfortunately, many people do not get the proper amount of sleep needed to ensure optimal health.

According to Stanford Medicine, there are more than one hundred different sleep disorders. Each sleep disorder comes with its own set of symptoms. Some of the most common sleep disorders include sleep and breathing disorders, restless leg syndrome, insomnia and hypersomnia.

• Circadian rhythm disorders – Circadian rhythm disorders occur when your sleep times become out of alignment. Jet lag and shift work are common causes for this type of condition that can interfere with your normal sleep patterns. Other circadian rhythm disorders occur when a person goes to sleep earlier or later than normal or wakes up earlier or later in the morning.

• Hypersomnia – Hypersomnia is sleep disorders that cause excessive sleepiness. Sufferers may fall asleep at a moment's notice and can be dangerous. Examples of hypersomnia include narcolepsy, Kleine-Levin Syndrome, Idiopathic Hypersomnia and Insufficient Sleep Syndrome. Narcolepsy is a lifelong sleep disorder that causes sudden uncontrollable sleep. Sufferers can fall into a deep sleep while driving, eating or even walking. Kleine-Levin Syndrome involves excess sleep duration and sleepiness. Typically, this disorder, persists for a couple of days or up to five weeks and recur several times a year. Idiopathic hypersomnia is a disorder where the sufferer requires 12 to 14 hours of sleep daily. Finally, insufficient sleep syndrome happens when you do not get enough sleep nightly which causes sleep deprivation.

• Insomnia – Insomnia is the inability to get to sleep or sleep throughout the night. Sufferers of insomnia often experience daytime fatigue that can affect all aspects of their lives, including mental health, relationship status and mood swings, poor job performance and much more.

• Parasomnias – Parasomnias are sleep disorders that cause unwanted experiences when you are first falling asleep, in deep sleep or beginning to wake up. You may experience abnormal dreams, perceptions, behaviors, movements or emotions while you are still asleep. This set of sleep disorder can cause you to have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Examples of this group of sleep disorders include sleepwalking, night terrors, sleep paralysis, bedwetting, sleep talking and nightmares.

• Short sleeper – Another sleep disorder is short sleep. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine reports that most adults are unable to function if they do not get at least seven hours of sleep. However, a small number of adults sleep less than six hours a night and remain refreshed and alert. This condition occurs naturally and remains the same every night, including holidays and weekends.

• Sleep and breathing disorders – Breathing difficulties during sleep are classified as sleep-related breathing disorders. There are several variations, including obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea and snoring. Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious disorder where the soft tissues in the palate obstruct the airway. Central sleep apnea is a brain or heart disorder that causes a person to stop breathing for several seconds during sleep. Finally, snoring occurs when the tissues in the back of the throat vibrate as you breathe in and out during sleep.

• Sleep movement disorders – These sleep disorders cause movements during sleep, which make it difficult to get a restful night's sleep. These disorders include restless leg syndrome, bruxism and leg cramps. Restless leg syndrome is a sleep disorder that causes the inside of your legs to burn or itch when lying down. This itching and burning sensation can prevent you from going to sleep. Bruxism causes your jaw to contract while you sleep and results in grinding or clenching your teeth. Leg cramps are another common problem that can interfere with sleep. Cramps happen when one of the muscles in the leg contracts, causing severe pain that will wake you.

Sleep disorders come in a variety of issues. With millions of Americans suffering from sleep disorders, it is important to learn what you can do to help you get good, restful sleep. Taking a sleep support supplement that contains melatonin and practicing good sleep hygiene is the first step towards combating a sleep disorder and ensuring that you get a restful night's sleep without interruption.