Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders are a medical disorder involving sleep patterns. Some sleep disorders may interfere with normal physical, mental, and emotional functioning, and can be caused by external factors, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, or a life transition. The symptoms typically involve difficulties related to sleeping, including difficulty falling asleep, falling asleep at inappropriate times, excessive sleep time, or abnormal behaviors associated with sleep. It is a relatively common disorder.

TYPES OF SLEEP DISORDERS

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): OSA , the most common form of sleep disorder, results when certain structures — muscles or tissue at the base of the tongue or back of the throat — relax or sag, blocking the flow of air in and out of the lungs during sleep. Despite valiant efforts, OSA sufferers simply can’t get the oxygen they need, resulting in loud snoring, apneas, and frequent arousal from deep sleep.

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): This type of apnea results when the brain fails to signal to you to breathe. There would be no obvious signs you are trying to breathe, because your brain has failed to send the message to your respiratory muscles. CSA is less common than OSA.

Mixed Sleep Apnea (MSA): As the name implies, this type involves some combination of both OSA and CSA.

No matter what the cause, if you stop breathing the body cannot get the oxygen it needs to function. This lack of oxygen causes you to wake up from deep sleep just before you begin breathing again. People with severe apnea may suffer from such awakenings as many as 500 times a night because of low oxygen levels. It’s no wonder those with apnea may feel irritable or anxious the next day.

Because there are over one hundred specific sleep disorders, experiencing one in your lifetime is not uncommon.

COMMON SLEEP DISORDER SYMPTOMS

The most common sleep disorder symptoms include:

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Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

SHOULD YOU CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR? TAKE OUR ADULT SLEEP QUIZ

  • Welcome to our Adult Sleep Quiz
  • This quiz focuses on four of the most common sleep disorders: Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Insomnia, Narcolepsy and Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) or Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD).
  • Please complete all of these quick assessments, and then let us know if you would like to follow up with a sleep professional from Dynamic Healthcare Services.
  • Ready? Answer the questions below to find out if you should contact your doctor regarding your symptoms.

Adult Sleep Quiz

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I have been told I that I snore

2 / 34

I have difficulty falling asleep

3 / 34

When I am angry or surprised, my muscles go limp

4 / 34

I frequently have muscle cramps in my legs

5 / 34

I have been told that I stop breathing while I sleep

6 / 34

Thoughts race through my mind and prevent me from falling asleep

7 / 34

I have fallen asleep at school or work

8 / 34

I often feel compelled to move my legs and can't keep them still

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I have high blood pressure

10 / 34

I anticipate a problem with sleep almost every night

11 / 34

I dream vividly when I am falling asleep

12 / 34

I have been told that I kick in my sleep

13 / 34

I sweat excessively during the night

14 / 34

I wake up during the night and can't go back to sleep

15 / 34

I feel like I am hallucinating when I fall asleep

16 / 34

I feel aches or crawly sensations in my legs

17 / 34

I have noticed my heart pounding or beating irregularly during the night

18 / 34

I worry about things and have trouble relaxing

19 / 34

I feel like I am walking around in a daze

20 / 34

I have been told my body jerks when I sleep

21 / 34

I get morning headaches

22 / 34

I wake up earlier in the morning than I would like

23 / 34

I nap frequently and wake refreshed

24 / 34

I awaken with leg pains at night

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I suddenly wake up gasping for breath during the night

26 / 34

I lie awake for half an hour or more before I fall asleep

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I have fallen asleep in social settings, like a party or movie

28 / 34

I am overweight

29 / 34

I often feel sad and depressed

30 / 34

I have "sleep attacks" during the day no matter how hard I try to stay awake

31 / 34

I have trouble concentrating at work or during the day and during tasks

32 / 34

I have felt like I can't move when I fall asleep or wake up

33 / 34

I have been gaining weight

34 / 34

I have fallen asleep while eating

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