A sleep disorder is a physical and psychological condition or
disturbance of sleep and wakefulness caused by abnormalities that occur
during sleep or by abnormalities of specific sleep mechanisms. Although
the sleep disorder exists during sleep, recognizable symptoms manifest
themselves during the day. Accurate diagnosis requires a polysomnogram,
widely known as a "sleep test."Sleep Apnea
Loud, constant snoring can indicate a potentially life-threatening disorder called sleep apnea. A person with sleep apnea stops breathing repeatedly while sleeping, anywhere from 10 seconds to 3 minutes.
Insomnia
Insomnia is not defined by the number of hours of sleep a person gets or how long it takes to fall asleep. Individuals vary normally in their need for, and their satisfaction with, sleep. Insomnia may cause problems during the day, such as tiredness, a lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, and irritability.
Narcolepsy
The main characteristic of narcolepsy is excessive and overwhelming daytime sleepiness, even after adequate nighttime sleep. A person with narcolepsy is likely to become drowsy or to fall asleep, often at inappropriate times and places.
RLS / PLMD
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder in which patients experience irrepressible sensations in the legs or arms while sitting or lying still. Terms used to describe RLS may include creepy, crawly, pulling, tingling, itching, or gnawing.
Idiopathic Hypersomnia
Hypersomnia refers to either excessive sleepiness during the day or extended, overly long periods of nighttime sleep. Other words that are synonymous with hypersomnia are excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), excessive sleepiness, or somnolence.
Parasomnias
Parasomnia is a broad term used to describe various uncommon disruptive sleep-related disorders. They are intense, infrequent physical acts that occur during sleep. Some common parasomnias include sleepwalking, sleep talking, sleep terrors, nightmares, and teethgrinding.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain illness characterized by widespread musculoskeletal aches, pain and stiffness, soft tissue tenderness, general fatigue and sleep disturbances. Fibromyalgia patients experience a range of symptoms of varying intensities that wax and wane over time.
Circadian Rhythm Disorder
The human body is set to a 24-hour clock, known by scientists as circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms influence hormones that play a role in sleep and wakefulness, metabolic rate, and body temperature.
Taken From: Talk about Sleep at :
http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/sleep-disorders/index.htm
