Sleep disorders: An informative guide about common sleep disturbances

What Are Sleep Disorders?

Sleep disorders are simply conditions that interrupt your normal sleep. There are over 80 sleep disorders including insomnia (which you’re probably familiar with) and restless REM sleep behavior disorder (which you might not be as familiar with). 

The symptoms of sleep disorders can vary greatly from difficulty sleeping to trouble falling asleep, daytime sleepiness, and unusual movement while asleep. 

What Are the 6 Types of Sleep Disorders? A Sleep Disorders List

The International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD), third edition, groups sleep disorders into 6 main categories:

1. Insomnia is difficulty falling or staying asleep, which harms day-to-day functioning. There are several subcategories of insomnia, such as chronic insomnia disorder and short-term insomnia disorder.
2. Sleep-related breathing disorders are characterized by difficulty breathing during sleep and caused by obstructed airways. Disorders in this category include obstructive sleep apnea disorders, central sleep apnea syndrome, sleep-related hypoventilation disorders, and sleep-related hypoxemia disorder. Sleep disordered breathing can be very dangerous if left untreated.
3. Central disorders of hypersomnolence are characterized by daytime sleepiness that is not a result of a poor night’s sleep. These disorders include narcolepsy (type I and II), idiopathic hypersomnia, Kleine-Levin syndrome, and hypersomnia.
4. Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders are also characterized by daytime sleepiness, but in this case, as a result of a disruption in their normal circadian rhythm. Disorders include delayed sleep-wake phase disorder, irregular sleep-wake rhythm, advanced sleep-wake phase disorder, and jet lag disorder.
5. Parasomnias are unwanted movements or actions during sleep. Disorders in this category include REM sleep behavior disorder, nightmare disorder, exploding head syndrome, and sleep-related hallucinations.
6. Sleep-related movement disorders are characterized by repetitive movements that disrupt sleep. These disorders include restless legs syndrome, sleep-related bruxism, and periodic limb movement disorder.

What Causes Sleep Disorders?

As with many conditions, the causes of sleep disorders aren’t so clear-cut. The cause(s) can vary from one sleep disorder to the next as well as one person to the next. Additionally, often the cause isn’t known.

That said, here are a few common causes of sleep disorders:

• Bedtime habits: Something as simple as poor sleep hygiene can cause sleep disturbances like insomnia. Sleep hygiene means creating the proper environment for sleeping as well as implementing a nighttime routine that supports restful sleep. A few bad bedtime habits include eating late at night, scrolling through social media in bed, and drinking alcohol or caffeine too close to the time you plan to go to sleep.
• Chronic pain: Chronic or long-standing pain can make it difficult to sleep each night (insomnia). For example, people with arthritis, which is characterized by swollen or stiff joints, might struggle to relax or get comfortable enough to fall asleep. Their pain might also wake them up at night. 
• Chemicals in the brain: A less understood cause of the sleep disorder RLS is an imbalance of dopamine, a brain chemical that’s known as the “feel-good hormone.” Dopamine sends messages that control muscle movement. Thus, when you don’t have enough of it, you have less control over your muscles, which can bleed into your sleep.
• Excess weight: Being overweight or obese can cause or contribute to the development of the sleep disorder sleep apnea. 
• Depression and anxiety: Other conditions can also create sleep problems or even lead to a sleep disorder. In depression and anxiety, difficulty sleeping is a primary symptom. 
• Genetics: And sometimes, you can blame your genetics for your sleep disorder.

How Common Are Sleep Disorders?

According to the American Sleep Association (ASA), around 50-70 million adults in the US have a sleep disorder. Common sleep disorders include insomnia, restless legs syndrome, REM sleep behavior disorder, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea.

So, if you have a diagnosed sleep disorder or you’re experiencing symptoms of a sleep disorder, you’re in good company. Not to mention most (if not all) of us encounter sleep disturbances from time to time.

What Are Some of the Rare Sleep Disorders?

Rapid eye movement behavior disorder, shift work sleep disorder, and restless leg syndrome are three of the rarest sleep disorders that exist.

Rapid eye movement behavior disorder causes nerve patterns that allow movement to be activated during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep when they normally would not, which can make someone lash out and move around while dreaming. 

Shift work sleep disorder affects people that work nights or have rotating shifts, which causes interruptions to one’s circadian rhythm. This means that someone with a consistently odd sleep schedule might have conflicting signals sent through their body regarding when it’s time to sleep or be awake, which can have a detrimental effect on a person and their sleep schedules, such as excessive daytime sleepiness.

Finally, restless leg syndrome occurs when someone’s legs move uncontrollably when they’re relaxed and asleep. It can not only interrupt sleep patterns, but it can sometimes be difficult to treat on one’s own, since being relaxed and calm does not help reduce the symptoms.

Are Sleep Disorders Psychological?

Sleep disorders can be caused by psychological as well as physical problems. It depends on the specific disorder as well as the unique factors at play. For example, an individual may suffer from insomnia as a result of their depression. On the other hand, someone may develop sleep apnea because they are overweight. 

It’s important to note that psychological and physical problems can also be exacerbated by sleep disorders or difficulties. Not getting adequate sleep can create or contribute to a host of problems including stress, mood issues, depression, and anxiety.

Which Sleep Disorder Runs the Highest Risk of Death?

Breathing-related sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, are some of the most dangerous sleep disorders to have, since they inhibit a vital function of the body. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), studies have shown that people who have severe sleep apnea have three times the risk of dying compared with people who do not have sleep apnea.

What Sleep Disorders Cause Nightmares?

Certain sleep disorders like restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea can cause nightmares. However, there is also a distinct sleep disorder that causes recurrent nightmares: appropriately named nightmare disorder, which falls under the parasomnia category of sleep disorders. 

While nightmares are common, nightmare disorder is not. This occurs when nightmares… 

• Are prevalent
• Cause distress
• Disturb one’s sleep
• Cause daytime sleepiness
• Interrupt one’s daily functioning
• Trigger a fear of sleep

How to Diagnose Sleep Disorders

If you are experiencing symptoms of a sleep disorder, talk to your doctor — they can help to identify what’s really going on. In order to do so, they’ll likely ask you to detail your symptoms as well as share relevant information about your medical history and do a physical exam. From there, they might order a test to reach a sure diagnosis. Here are a couple of common sleep tests:

• Polysomnograms assess one’s oxygen levels, body movements, and brain waves to understand how they might affect his or her sleep. It’s conducted overnight at a sleep center or hospital. Polysomnograms can help to diagnose a range of sleep disorders including sleep apnea and REM behavior disorder.
• Multiple Sleep Latency Tests are used to assess daytime sleepiness, measuring how quickly an individual falls asleep in a quiet, daytime environment. Multiple Sleep Latency Tests consist of five scheduled naps, each scheduled two hours apart, making them full-day endeavors. They are used to diagnose narcolepsy as well as idiopathic hypersomnia.  

How Serious Is It if a Sleep Disorder Goes Undiagnosed?

Sleeping is a very important behavior required for normal functioning of the brain and body restoration. The lack of sleep and health problems that sleep disorders can cause can be very harmful to the body if they are left untreated, depending on the type and intensity of your disorder. 

Without proper sleep, the body can slowly lose its ability to defend itself or function properly, which can cause symptoms of depression, anxiety, and confusion. It could also lead to dangerous consequences such as accidents that could result from not having quality sleep.

How to Treat Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders can be treated effectively with medical interventions as well as lifestyle changes. Here is a list of common, helpful medical treatments:

• Medication and/or supplements: Sleeping pills, as well as specific supplements like melatonin, can help you fall and stay asleep at night. Additionally, if your sleep disturbance is caused by an underlying disorder (such as depression), appropriate medication such as an antidepressant can help.
• Talk therapy: As we mentioned earlier, sometimes sleep disorders are caused or exacerbated by psychological issues. In these instances, talk therapy can be beneficial. For example, again in the case of depression, therapy can help the individual to better manage their symptoms and work to a happier place, thus improving their sleep. 
• Breathing devices: Certain sleep disorders like sleep apnea can be relieved by breathing devices. For example, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine uses air pressure to open your throat, allowing air to pass through, reducing snoring, and preventing a major sleep disturbance. 

Often, setting healthy lifestyle habits is recommended in tandem with receiving medical help for sleep disorders. Here are several healthy lifestyle habits you should consider investing in:

• Improving your diet: Eat more veggies and cut out highly processed foods.
• Exercise on a regular basis: Go for a walk or jog to manage stress and other difficult emotions that arise.
• Create a healthy bedtime routine: Keep your bedroom cool, put your phone down 30 minutes (or earlier) before getting into bed, and limit your caffeine intake after 3 pm. 

Remember: Exact treatment will depend on your specific sleep disorder, its symptoms, severity, and more. The first step is to talk to your doctor who can offer appropriate guidance for treatment.