List of Sleep Disorders

The list of sleep disorders recognized by the medical community is over 70. In America it is reported that about 40 million people suffer from a chronic sleep disorder, while around 20 million more suffer from occasional sleep difficulties. 

This list is divided into three categories

1. Disturbed Sleep (insomnia)

2. Excessive Sleep (hypersomnia)

3. Lack of Sleep (sleep deprivation)

Fortunately once a sleep disorder is diagnosed, there are treatment options. However, often times people are unaware of their sleep disorder until a spouse or an other person observes their sleep.

Sleep disorders vary with causes, symptoms and frequency. Variances are in how long it takes to fall asleep, the quality of one's sleep, and how long one sleeps.

Sleep Disorders List

Here is a Sleep Disorder List covering the most common disorders with a basic explanation:

Insomnia: Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. It can be a temporary sleep condition or develop into a more chronic long term sleep disorder. What are the signs of insomnia? Find out here:
Signs of Insomnia

Hypersomnia: The opposite of insomnia. A person sleeps longer and for more hours than what is normal - during the night or the day. It is difficult for them to wake up. The need to take naps is compelling, but provides no relief. Find out more about primary hypersomnia here: Primary Hypersomnia

Children Bedwetting: Another name is nocturnal enuresis which is bed-wetting while sleeping. Children Bedwetting

Bruxism: Clenching and grinding the teeth while sleeping. This condition is common in children but occurs in adults as well. Find out what causes this sleep disorder and ways of treating it here: What is Bruxism?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Airway obstruction while sleeping, which limits deep sleep; snoring usually accompanies it. What is Sleep Apnea? 

Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS): Fall asleep and waken at unusual times, but able to maintain sleep (circadian rhythms disorder)

Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome (ASPS): Another circadian rhythms disorder where person goes to sleep early and rises early

Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Syndrome: Circadian rhythm disorder where the body does not function with the 24 hour biological clock

Hypopnea Syndrome: A slow respiratory rate or shallow breathing while sleeping

Narcolepsy: Unwilling and spontaneous falling asleep with excessive daytime sleepiness What is Narcolepsy?

Nocturia: A reoccuring need to go to the bathroom and urinate at night

Cataplexy: Abrupt weakness with one's motor muscles

Night Terror: Not nightmares but rather a sudden awakening with gasping, moaning, or crying out. There is no recall of the episode in the morning. It is not uncommon in young children, but adults can experience it as well. Night Terrors in Children

Parasomnias: Arousal disorder with abnormal behaviors and thoughts such as sleep walking

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS): Associated with Periodic Limb Movement with an irressistable need to move the legs

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) / Nocturnal Mycolonus: The involuntary movement of legs and/or arms while sleeping

Rapid Eye Movement Behavior Disorder (RBD): Movements in REM sleep from twitches to acting out dreams

Situational Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders: Jet lag and shift work sleep disorders (SWSD)

Sleep Paralysis: A temporal paralysis of the body right before or after sleep. Often associated with auditory, visual, or tactile hallucinations. Sometimes classified as a part of narcolypsey

Sleep Walking / Somnambulism: Doing actions typical with being awake such as walking around, eating or dressing, without conscious knowledge or awareness.

Snoring: It is a symptom of a problem and not an actual disorder

Sleeping Sickness: Parasite disease transmitted by the Tsetse fly

Sleep Talking / Somniloquy: Talking while sleeping

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): The sudden death of an infant under the age of one. It usually occurs in the crib while the baby is sleeping.

A more extensive list of sleep disorders and indepth information can be found at the Sleep Foundation Organization website:

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-disorders

Sleep Disorder Doctor

How do you know if you should seek out the expertise of a sleep disorder doctor? Many people who have sleep problems initially bring it up to their primary care physician (PCP). The knowledge, training and education of the PCP on sleep disorders is of course varied.

While this may be a good place to start, if the problem persists it is best to seek out a specialist.  But what kind of specialist - a neurologist, a pulmonologist or a behavioral medicine doctor?

Find out your options here:

Sleep Disorder Doctor

What Is A Sleep Study?

Many times at work (I am a registered nurse) we get calls from patients asking to make an appointment for a sleep study. So of course we ask some more questions about what is prompting the request and then go on to explain a few things about the process.

First an appointment with a sleep specialist takes place. And then depending on what the doctor finds out about your sleep during the consult, he/she may or may not order a sleep study. "A sleep study isn't always the first line of treatment for someone with insomnia," says Maha Ahmad, M.D.. an associate director at the Sleep Disorders Institute in New York City. "First we want to look at your sleeping habits, then start you on a behavioral program." Keeping a sleep log for a couple of weeks, noting times when one falls asleep and wakes up is often the first step.

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