Sleep disorder
A sleep disorder is a disorder in the sleep patterns of a person or animal. Some sleep disorders can interfere with mental and emotional function, due to their interference with REM sleep.The most common sleep disorders include:
- Bruxism: The sufferer involentarily grinds his or her teeth while sleeping
- Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS): a sleep disorder of circadian rhythm
- Insomnia: Inability to fall asleep at will or at normal times
- Jet lag or desynchronosis: Temporary condition resulting in out of sync sleep patterns as a result of rapidly travelling across multiple time zones
- Narcolepsy: The condition of falling asleep spontaneously and unwillfully
- Night terror or Pavor nocturnus or sleep terror disorder: abrupt awakening from sleep with behavior consistent with terror
- Parasomnias: Include a variety of disruptive sleep-related events
- Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD): Involuntary movement of arms and/or legs during sleep
- Rapid eye movement behavior disorder (RBD): Acting out violent or dramatic dreams while in REM sleep
- Restless leg syndrome (RLS): An irresistible urge to move legs while sleeping. Often accompanies PLMD.
- Sleep apnea: The obstruction of the airway during sleep
- Sleep paralysis: Conscious paralysis upon waking or falling asleep
- Sleepwalking or somnambulism: Engaging in activities that are normally associated with wakefulness (such as eating or dressing), which may include walking, without the conscious knowledge of the subject
- Snoring: Loud breathing patterns while sleeping, sometimes accompanying sleep apnea
External Links
- http://www.sleepdisorderchannel.com/: SleepChannel's sleep disorder site
- http://www.sleepnet.com/disorder.htm: SleepNet.com's sleep disorder information
- http://www.aasmnet.org/: American Academy of Sleep Medicine
- http://www.nightterrors.org/: Night Terror Resource Center
