Sleep Disorders
Sleep Apnea
Daytime sleepiness and fatigue caused by sleep apnea can have severe consequences - from job impairment due to inattentiveness and sleepiness, to falling asleep while driving or during tasks requiring you to be awake or alert. Sleep apnea means you stop breathing for 10 seconds or more while you sleep, and may occur as often as hundreds of times during a night. Apnea sufferers often awake with a loud snort or jerk of the body as they gasp for air. This sudden resumption of breathing causes brief awakenings that disrupt the normal sleep pattern and result in decreased alertness, increased fatigue and daytime sleepiness.
In addition to problems caused by sleepiness, decreased levels of oxygen in the blood can cause or contribute to high blood pressure, stroke, fluid retention and abnormal heartbeats.
If you experience one or more of the following symptoms, you may have sleep apnea:
- Loud, heavy snoring
- Restless sleep
- Frequent nighttime urination
- Daytime sleepiness
- Morning headaches
- Poor concentration, forgetfulness, memory loss
- Anxiety, irritability, depression, behavior changes
- Decreased interest in sex
- High blood pressure
Insomnia
Insomnia is the inability to get as much sleep as a person needs for efficient daytime functioning. Symptoms include:
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Waking up during the night and not being able to return to sleep
- Daytime sleepiness
- Loss of energy and alertness
Restless Leg Syndrome
Restless leg syndrome is characterized by periodic limb movements or twitches that may awaken a person or keep him from falling asleep. Symptoms include:
- Kicking legs while asleep
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Daytime sleepiness
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is an inherited disorder that can cause a person to fall asleep suddenly and unexpectedly. Persons with narcolepsy may experience:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Periods of amnesia
- Sleep paralysis
- Loss of muscle tone with excitement
- Trouble with concentration
- Vivid dreamlike scenes when falling asleep or awakening
