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Key Sleep Disorders
Sleep-related difficulties affect many people. The following
is a description of some of the major sleep disorders. If you, or
someone you know, is experiencing any of the following, it may be important to
receive an evaluation by a healthcare provider or, if necessary, a provider
specializing in sleep medicine.
Insomnia
Insomnia is characterized by an inability to initiate or maintain sleep. It may
also take the form of early morning awakening in which the individual
awakens several hours early and is unable to resume sleeping. Difficulty
initiating or maintaining sleep may often manifest itself as excessive
daytime sleepiness, which characteristically results in functional
impairment throughout the day. Before arriving at a diagnosis of
primary insomnia, the healthcare provider will rule out other
potential causes, such as other sleep disorders, side effects of
medications, substance abuse, depression, or other previously undetected
illness. Chronic psychophysiological insomnia (or “learned” or “conditioned”
insomnia) may result from a stressor combined with fear of being unable to
sleep. Individuals with this condition may sleep better when
not in their own beds. Health care providers may treat chronic insomnia with a
combination of use of sedative-hypnotic or sedating antidepressant
medications, along with behavioral techniques to promote regular sleep.
Narcolepsy
Excessive daytime sleepiness (including episodes of irresistible
sleepiness) combined with sudden muscle weakness are the hallmark signs of
narcolepsy. The sudden muscle weakness seen in narcolepsy may be elicited by
strong emotion or surprise. Episodes of narcolepsy have been described as
“sleep attacks” and may occur in unusual circumstances, such as walking and
other forms of physical activity. The healthcare provider may treat
narcolepsy with stimulant medications combined with behavioral
interventions, such as regularly scheduled naps, to minimize the potential
disruptiveness of narcolepsy on the individual’s life.
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
RLS is characterized by an unpleasant “creeping” sensation, often feeling
like it is originating in the lower legs, but often associated with aches
and pains throughout the legs. This often causes difficulty initiating sleep
and is relieved by movement of the leg, such as walking or kicking.
Abnormalities in the neurotransmitter dopamine have often been associated
with RLS. Healthcare providers often combine a medication to help correct
the underlying dopamine abnormality along with a medicine to promote sleep
continuity in the treatment of RLS.
Sleep Apnea
Snoring may be more than just an annoying habit – it may be a sign of
sleep apnea. Persons with sleep apnea characteristically make periodic
gasping or “snorting” noises, during which their sleep is momentarily
interrupted. Those with sleep apnea may
also experience excessive daytime sleepiness, as their sleep is commonly
interrupted and may not feel restorative. Treatment of sleep apnea is dependent on its cause. If other medical problems are present,
such as congestive heart failure or nasal obstruction, sleep apnea may
resolve with treatment of these conditions. Gentle air pressure administered during sleep (typically in the form of a nasal continuous positive airway
pressure device) may also be effective in the treatment of sleep apnea. As
interruption of regular breathing or obstruction of the airway of the
individual during sleep can pose serious complications for the health of the
individual, symptoms of sleep apnea should be taken seriously.
Source: Reite M, Ruddy J, Nagel K. Concise guide to
evaluation and management of sleep disorders (3rd ed). Washington, DC:
American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc., 2002.
Page last modified: September 10, 2007
Content source: Division of Adult
and Community Health, National
Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion |
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