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Characteristics of the Different Types of Sleeping Disorders
Sleep disorders are a group of conditions characterized by disturbance in the amount, quality or timing of a person's sleep. They also include emotional and other problems that may be related to sleep. In order to lead a normal and healthy life, it is essential that a person gets good sleep. Sleep is as important to us as food, air or water. However, a number of people suffer from sleep disorders. There are more than a 100 different sleep disorders and they are generally classified into two major categories. Dyssomnias consist of disorders in which a person has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. This category also includes disorders in which a person may fall asleep at inappropriate times. Parasomnias, which is the second category of sleep disorders, includes those in which people experience physical events while they are sleeping. The most common types of sleeping disorders are: bruxism, delayed sleep phase syndrome, hypopnea syndrome, insomnia, jet lag, narcolepsy, night terrors, periodic limb movement disorder, rapid eye movement behavior disorder, restless legs syndrome, shift work sleep disorder, sleep apnea, sleep paralysis, sleepwalking and snoring. Sleepwalking is one of the most common types of sleeping disorders. During a sleepwalking incident, the person will get out of bed and walk around. The person is not responsive to any other individuals who may try to communicate with him or her. Usually, the sleeper has no memory of the episode. If there is any memory of the occurrence, it is a vague one. Sleep terrors may also occur in conjunction with sleepwalking. During sleep walking incidents, people may walk up or down stairs, go out of doors, eat a snack, dress themselves up or even drive cars. Sleep walking in adults can be chronic and last for many years. Parasomnias include any of the following sleep disorders: sleepwalking, sleep sex, teeth grinding, night terrors, rhythmic movement disorder, REM behavior disorder and restless leg syndrome. These types of sleeping disorders are most typically associated with stress and depression. Those that are included in the parasomnia category are considered as being acute and undesirable. Sleep apnea is considered to be a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. People with sleep apnea stop breathing for 10 to 30 seconds at a time while they are sleeping. These short stops in breathing can happen up to 400 times every night. These periods of not breathing may make them wake up from deep sleep. A person with sleep apnea has a higher risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke. In addition, people with this type of sleeping disorder are more prone to have accidents if they drive while they are sleepy. There are two basic forms of sleep apnea -- central and obstructive. The central form of sleep apnea occurs when breathing is interrupted by the lack of effort, whereas the obstructive form of sleep apnea occurs when there is an actual physical blockage to the airflow. Loud snoring or gasping is often noted with this type of sleep problem. Jet lag is considered to be curse of modern jet travel, resulting in loss of working efficiency and holiday enjoyment, often for days after arrival. Jet lag or jet syndrome is a physical condition caused by crossing time zones during flight. The condition is generally believed to be the result of disruption to the circadian rhythms (e.g., the "light/dark" cycle) of the body causing the person to feel "out of sync" with local time at his or her destination. It can also be aggravated by experiencing sudden changes in climate or seasonal conditions, as well as the reduced oxygen, partial pressure, excess noise and low humidity commonly experienced in the cabin of an aircraft.
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