More than 100 types of sleep disorders have been discovered, says MedlinePlus. People can have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. They may be unable to sleep at consistent times of the day or may assume strange behaviors while sleeping. Some disorders require treatment, while other sleeping problems can resolve on their own.
Insomnia
The Mayo Clinic says that more than 33 percent of adults in the United States suffer from insomnia at some point in their lives. In fact, 10 to 15 percent of people suffer from chronic insomnia.
Specific symptoms of insomnia include trouble sleeping at night and awakening during the night or awakening too early in the morning. Other insomnia symptoms include daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, headaches, irritability, anxiety and depression.
Stress, certain medications such as antidepressants, anxiety, depression, nicotine, alcohol, caffeine and certain medical conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease are just some causes of insomnia.
Treatment for insomnia includes taking part in behavioral therapies such as learning about good sleeping habits and learning relaxation exercises to calm insomnia sufferers prior to sleeping. For example, focusing on breathing and muscle relaxation can help an insomniac fall asleep. Other treatments include light therapy and counseling sessions to understand the root of the insomnia. Often, sleeping pills such as zolpidem or ramelteon can help induce sleeping. Also, antihistamine medications can also promote sleeping.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a nervous system disorder in which people suddenly fall asleep at inopportune moments, says MedlinePlus. Specific narcolepsy symptoms include having episodes of severe drowsiness every three to four hours and having hallucinations. Other narcolepsy symptoms include suffering from sleep paralysis. In other words, a narcolepsy sufferer is unable to move his body after first waking up. A loss of muscle tone (cataplexy) is another symptom of narcolepsy.
MedlinePlus says that narcolepsy may be due to a reduced amount of hypocretin (a protein) in the brain.
Lifestyle changes such as planning naps, eating vegetarian meals and informing people of the condition can help manage narcolepsy. Sometimes, stimulant medications such as modafinil, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants and sodium oxybate can be used to manage narcolepsy.
Night Terror
MedlinePlus says that a night terror is a type of sleep disorder in which the affected person wakes up during the night after a horrible nightmare. It states that night terrors are most common between the hours of midnight and 2 a.m. Night terrors are common in children between the ages of three and seven.
Specific night terror symptoms include children who are frightened, scream and are unable to talk after having the night terrors. Rapid breathing, a fast heart rate and sweating are some other symptoms of night terrors. Sometimes, it is impossible to wake the child from her night terror. MedlinePlus says that night terrors can last for 10 to 20 minutes.
Comfort, counseling and benzodiazepine medications can be used to manage night terrors.
