COMMON SLEEP DISORDERS AND THEIR SYMPTOMS
Please choose a disorder:

1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
2. Narcolepsy
3. Periodic Limb Movements (PLM)
4. Insomnia
5. Parasomnia

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
This is the most serious sleep disorder. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the periodic obstruction of the upper airway during sleep and has a prevalence rate of three to eight percent. The National Institute of Health estimates more than 18 million Americans suffer from OSA. Periods of apnea can last up to 90 seconds and may occur several hundred times per night. OSA is the most common medical cause of excessive daytime sleepiness and is more common in men.

Symptoms of OSA are listed below:

• Loud, habitual snoring
• Pauses in breathing during sleep
• Daytime sleepiness/fatigue
• Irritability/Personality changes
• Obesity
• Choking/Gasping/snorts during sleep
• Hypertension
• Non-refreshing sleep/inability to wake up
• Daytime fatigue
• Memory and concentration problems
• Morning headaches
• Upper airway abnormalities
• Frequent napping
• Nocturnal Angina/Arrhythmias
• Frequent awakenings
• Reduced libido

Diagnosis for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is made through pertinent history, physical examination, and polysomnography. Appropriate evaluation, treatment and follow-up care are vital for the long-term health of patients with OSA. Untreated OSA can lead to increased risk of heart disease, strokes and accidents.

Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is thought to be widely undiagnosed.

Classic symptoms include:

• Excessive sleepiness
• Cataplexy (physical weakness with emotion)
• Hypnagogic hallucinations
• Sleep paralysis (occurs upon waking)
• Automatic behavior
• Low concentration
• Occupational/School problems

Symptoms may appear rapidly or develop slowly over the years. The cause of Narcolepsy is still unknown but shows strong familial clustering.

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
Restless Leg Syndrome is described as a “creeping, crawling sensation that creates an urge to move the legs. RLS is experienced by 2-5% of the general population. People with RLS often describe the following symptoms:

• "Creepy" or "jumpy" legs
• Unpleasant sensation during sleep
• Insomnia/Non-refreshing sleep
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Increased activity
• Restless sleep

Treatment for Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movements is highly effective for 90 percent of patients seeking help.

Insomnia
In its chronic form, it affects approximately nine percent of the population. It can last for weeks, months, or even years and may be related to the following:

• Worry, anxiety or stress
• Psychiatric disorders
• Primary sleep disorders
• Substance abuse
• Medical problems
• Behavioral/Conditional factors

Those with chronic insomnia may experience reduced productivity and accidents as a result of fatigue. Because insomnia is a symptom, the physician must search for the cause. Over 70 percent of insomnia sufferers sleep better after appropriate evaluation and treatment.

Parasomnia
This refers to a wide variety of disruptive, sleep-related events or "disorders of arousal." These arousal disorders include:

• Sleep Walking
• Sleep terrors (pavor nocturnes)
• Nightmares
• Partial seizures
• Violent behavior during sleep
• REM behavior disorder (acting out dreams)

Severe cases may lead to injury, violence, excessive eating, or disturbance of others in the bed or house. In most cases, parasomnias can be effectively diagnosed and treated.