Black woman in a yellow shirt falls asleep on her laptop due to daytime sleepiness from an untreated sleep disorder

What Are the Major Sleep Disorders?

March 24, 2023 8:00 am

A sleep disorder is a condition that disturbs the quality of your sleep, which can contribute to negative health effects over time.

Insomnia

Do you frequently have trouble falling asleep? Or do you have difficulty staying asleep throughout the night? Insomnia causes you to feel drowsy and fatigued during the day because you aren’t getting enough quality sleep.

There are two types of insomnia: acute and chronic insomnia. Acute insomnia is short-term. Chronic insomnia has been going on for three months or longer. Both types of insomnia can be triggered by stress, changes in your schedule, your sleep environment, poor sleep habits, and/or pregnancy.

Narcolepsy

The brain has many responsibilities, including regulating your sleep and wake patterns. Narcolepsy is a neurological condition characterized by overwhelming daytime sleepiness that can come about at any moment. Though not well understood, it is often caused by a deficiency in the chemical hypocretin, which causes a person’s sleep-wake cycle to become irregular.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

RLS, formally known as Willis-Ekbom disease, is a collection of uncomfortable sensations like itching, prickling, pulling, or crawling in the legs that result in an irresistible urge to move them. Symptoms of RLS worsen when lying down or when trying to relax, which can make sleep difficult to achieve. Thus, RLS can be connected with insomnia.

Sleep Apnea

Do you snore or wake up gasping for air at night? These may indicate you have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is characterized by abnormal breathing patterns during sleep. This disordered breathing can be caused by a blockage or restriction of the airways or from poor communication between the brain and muscles that control breathing.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea in Raleigh, NC

If you suspect you suffer from one of these sleep disorders, please seek professional help as soon as possible. At RespAir Sleep, our team offers treatment for snoring and sleep apnea in Raleigh, NC. Please contact us today to learn about our services!

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