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Insomnia and Other Sleep DisordersPosted: April 1, 2007
Insomnia is too little or poor-quality sleep caused by one or more of the following:
Insomnia can cause problems during the day, such as excessive sleepiness, fatigue, trouble thinking clearly or staying focused, or feeling depressed or irritable. It is not defined by the number of hours you sleep every night. Although the amount of sleep a person needs varies, most people need between 7 and 8 hours of sleep a night. Women are twice as likely to suffer from insomnia than men. Some research suggests that certain social factors, such as being unemployed or divorced, are related to poor sleep and increase the risk of insomnia in women. Also, insomnia tends to increase with age. Sometimes perimenopausal (the time leading up to menopause) women have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep; hot flashes and night sweats often can disturb sleep. Pregnancy also can affect how well a woman sleeps. How is insomnia diagnosed? If you think you have insomnia, talk to your doctor. It might be helpful to complete a sleep diary for a week or two, noting your sleep patterns, your daily routine, and how you feel during the day. Discuss the results of your sleep diary with your doctor. Your doctor may do a physical exam and take a medical history and sleep history. Your doctor may also want to talk to your bed partner to ask how much and how well you are sleeping. In some cases, you may be referred to a sleep center for special tests. What is narcolepsy? Narcolepsy is a lifelong condition that causes you to fall asleep suddenly during the day. Narcolepsy may cause sudden loss of muscle tone and control while awake (cataplexy), the inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up (sleep paralysis), and/or vivid dreams while falling asleep or waking up (hallucinations). There is no cure for narcolepsy, but its symptoms can be relieved with medicines and lifestyle changes.
What is restless legs syndrome? Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensory disorder causing an almost irresistible urge to move the legs. Movement eases the feelings but only for a while. RLS can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. People with RLS often don’t get enough sleep and may feel tired and sleepy during the day.
What is sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a common breathing disorder that can be very serious. In sleep apnea, your breathing stops or becomes very shallow for periods of 10 to 20 seconds or longer, many times during the night. The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
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