List of Sleep Disorders

The list of sleep disorders is recognized by the medical community is over 70. In America it is reported that about 40 million people suffer from a chronic sleep disorder, while around 20 million more suffer from occasional sleep difficulties.

The list of sleep disorders is divided into three categories

Disturbed Sleep (insomnia)

Excessive Sleep (hypersomnia)

Lack of Sleep (sleep deprivation)

Fortunately once a sleep disorder is diagnosed, there are treatment options. However, often times people are unaware of their sleep disorder until a spouse or an other person observes their sleep.

Sleep disorders vary with causes, symptoms and frequency. Variances are in how long it takes to fall asleep, the quality of one's sleep, and how long one sleeps.

Here is a Sleep Disorder List covering the most common disorders with a basic explanation:

Insomnia: Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep

Hypersomnia: The opposite of insomnia. A person sleeps longer and for more hours than what is normal - during the night or the day. It is difficult for them to wake up. The need to take naps is compelling, but provides no relief.

Bedwetting: Another name is sleep enuresis which is bed-wetting while sleeping

Bruxism: Clenching and grinding the teeth while sleeping

Narcolepsy: Unwilling and spontaneous falling asleep with excessive daytime sleepiness

Nocturia: A reoccuring need to go to the bathroom and urinate at night

Cataplexy: Abrupt weakness with one's motor muscles

Night Terror: Not nightmares but rather a sudden awakening with gasping, moaning, or crying out. There is no recall of the episode in the morning. It is not uncommon in young children, but adults can experience it as well.

Parasomnias: Arousal disorder with abnormal behaviors and thoughts such as sleep walking

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS): Associated with Periodic Limb Movement with an irressistable need to move the legs

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) / Nocturnal Mycolonus: The involuntary movement of legs and/or arms while sleeping

Rapid Eye Movement Behavior Disorder (RBD): Movements in REM sleep from twitches to acting out dreams

Situational Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders: Jet lag and shift work sleep disorders (SWSD)

Sleep Paralysis: A temporal paralysis of the body right before or after sleep. Often associated with auditory, visual, or tactile hallucinations. Sometimes classified as a part of narcolypsey

Sleep Walking / Somnambulism: Doing actions typical with being awake such as walking around, eating or dressing, without conscious knowledge or awareness.

Snoring: It is a symptom of a problem and not an actual disorder

Sleeping Sickness: Parasite disease transmitted by the Tsetse fly

Sleep Talking / Somniloquy: Talking while sleeping

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): The sudden death of an infant under the age of one. It usually occurs in the crib while the baby is sleeping.

There are also several medical or psychiatric conditions that can often lead to sleep disorders. They are:

• Psychoses
  • Depression
  • Mood Disorders
  • Alcoholism

  This sleep disorder list covers the most common and recognized sleep problems.

  
  

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  Go from List of Sleep Disorders to Sleep Aid Resource Homepage.