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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn our previous post<\/a>, we discussed three common types of sleep disorders, their symptoms, and treatments. There are over 70 known sleep disorders that are recognized though some say there could be more than 100. Often, sleep disorders <\/a>are broken down into six main types: circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, insomnia, hypersomnia disorders, parasomnias, sleep-related breathing disorders, and sleep-related movement disorders. In our previous post, we talked about circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, insomnia, and hypersomnia disorders. This post will be dedicated to parasomnias, sleep-related breathing disorders, and sleep-related movement disorders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Parasomnias are incredibly common and most people experience at least one of them during their lives. They are considered unwanted experiences during sleep that are not controllable by the person experiencing them. Parasomnias are not well understood as to what exactly causes them or any particular risk factors overall, but mood disorders and substance use seems to increase risk for some parasomnias but not others. Many parasomnias resolve on their own over time, which is especially true for children. Parasomnias are very common in children but as they age, the sleep disorders tend to disappear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sleep eating disorder <\/a>is a parasomnia disorder that involves a person eating while sleeping. This is different from someone who eats excessively after bedtime while aware. An individual experiencing this parasomnia is not aware of what is happening. This can be distressing for the person experiencing it because of the lack of awareness or memory around the event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A very common sleep disorder is hallucinations that happen right when falling asleep or as someone is waking up. Usually these are visual hallucinations but they can also be sensory or auditory hallucinations. They can sometimes be distressing for the person experiencing them, especially if they occur with sleep paralysis. Often these hallucinations are so vivid it is difficult for the person experiencing them to be able to tell if they are dreaming or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sleep paralysis is another common sleep disorder that often is paired with others, like sleep hallucinations and narcolepsy. This disorder can be very distressing for the individual because it involves an inability to move the body or speak while being aware and conscious. If paired with hallucinations, it can be especially upsetting. The paralysis goes away on its own as the person wakes more and more but sometimes an individual can speed this process up by making extreme efforts to move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Night terrors, or sleep terrors, are a well-known sleep disorder that involves the person sitting up in bed, while asleep, and screaming or thrashing around. Often, the person will be very difficult to wake up and may not recognize where they are or who is around them. When they do wake, many individuals are very confused and disoriented and may still be afraid. Very often, they do not remember what they were dreaming about or what caused the night terrors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sleep walking is a commonly occuring parasomnia in which the individual will leave bed while asleep and walk around. Sometimes this can just involve walking around the home but can sometimes be dangerous, for example if the person gets into a car to drive or if there is an open window on a second or higher floor. On occasion, the person can end up doing things that are not appropriate within their context (such as urinating in a closet). Often, it is better to gently guide the individual back to bed instead of trying to wake them up. This is especially true for children. If you know a child in your home sleepwalks, make sure that all doors and windows are locked in order to keep them from leaving the home while sleepwalking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sleep-related breathing disorders are something many people have heard about but perhaps do not associate them with being sleep disorders. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most well-known by the general public, though there are others, such as central sleep apnea or infant or child sleep apnea. Groaning, snoring, and other related noises during sleep are also considered sleep-related breathing disorders when they occur on their own. In this post, we\u2019ll focus on obstructive sleep apnea as it\u2019s the most likely one that people will encounter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder in which there is an anatomical issue that is obstructing the airway of an individual while they sleep. This can be excess tissue in the neck or throat, a tongue that falls back, or enlarged tonsils. These obstructions cause the person to temporarily stop breathing in their sleep. This is often characterized by snoring, gasping, choking noises, or being woken up by the inability to breathe. However, the person usually does not remember waking up due to this. More commonly, it is the bed partner who notices these symptoms and encourages the individual to pursue treatment. It can happen either a few times a night or even a few hundred in extreme cases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is diagnosed by a sleep doctor, usually with an at home sleep apnea test or in a sleep lab. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Obstructive sleep apnea can have very negative consequences on an individual\u2019s health, which highlights the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. These are related to the lack of oxygen that the person experiences during the night and include: high blood pressure and higher heart disease risk, depression, stroke, and diabetes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are effective treatments for obstructive sleep apnea. The first line treatment for this disorder is the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This is a machine that uses gentle bursts of air to keep the airway open while the individual sleeps. If the CPAP is not a good fit for an individual, a doctor may recommend the use of oral appliance therapy which is a device that fits in the mouth that holds the tongue in place and keeps the airway from collapsing and looks like a retainer or sports guard. For very severe cases that do not respond to these treatments, surgery may be used to remove some of the excess tissue that is contributing to the obstruction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The final type of sleep disorder we\u2019re going to discuss is the category of sleep-related movement disorders. The most well-known of these is restless leg syndrome, or RLS. RLS is characterized by an urge to move the legs or an uncomfortable feeling in the legs while lying down or resting. It often makes it difficult for someone to fall asleep. Some people describe the feeling as a crawling sensation in the legs. This can also make it difficult for someone to sit down for long periods of time, such as in a car or at work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n RLS very commonly starts after the age of 40, but can affect people of any age. It is twice as common in people assigned female at birth. Some causes of RLS are low iron levels, diabetes, pregnancy, some medications, and can be sometimes linked to kidney problems (such as kidney failure). <\/p>\n\n\n\n This condition is often managed with medication.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sleep starts are a sleep-related movement disorder that many people do not think of when they think about sleep disorders. It\u2019s something that almost everyone will experience at least once in their lives. Most people compare it to a sense of falling while either going to sleep or waking up. Sleep starts or sleep jerks are caused by the major muscles in the body suddenly contracting all at once. This is usually not a problem for many people but for those who experience it often, or who become anxious due to sleep starts, this may contribute to insomnia. It can also sometimes cause injury if the individual hits a piece of furniture or a bed partner during a sleep start or jerk. They rarely need treatment or management but if they are causing distress or issues for the person experiencing them, they can be managed by reducing stress, making sure to get enough sleep, and avoiding stimulants (like caffeine). <\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the best ways of dealing with many sleep disorders or to just get better sleep in general is to focus on sleep hygiene and getting a regular bedtime routine. Our next post will discuss the ways in which you can contribute to having better sleep!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Feel you may need help with a sleep disorder? Look at our list of clinicians<\/a> and see if you\u2019d like to make an appointment with us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Resources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK560720<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/www.nccih.nih.gov\/health\/sleep-disorders-what-you-need-to-know<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/www.psychiatry.org\/patients-families\/sleep-disorders\/what-are-sleep-disorders<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXfKjxE70Z0vx9MVtG3HHRug2RxxZ76UyKjOzef2Bl8iA8pkEnOQ_cIv7b0P4R32BKcJ6hmyVMtETuVNMK-k7bUOj-qEpEoQS2nDXJ2HFxTUcfh7ej8gTt90aiBQgw1rNdV9Z_M5FBnTOoh-JK-veuCk0rRw?key=Yz0NfWHNxNSr9wn1TCPYPQ\")
Parasomnias<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sleep eating disorder and hallucinations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sleep paralysis and night terrors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sleep Walking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Sleep Apneas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Sleep Related Movement Disorders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sleep Starts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n