Medically Reviewed by Nayana Ambardekar, MD

What Are Sleep Disorders?

These conditions affect how much and how well you sleep. Causes range from poor habits that keep you awake to medical problems that disrupt your sleep cycle. If you don’t feel rested in the mornings, see your doctor. Not getting enough shuteye is a serious problem that can threaten your health and safety.

The Dangers of Not Getting Enough ZZZs

Lack of sleep can take a toll on nearly every part of your life. Research links sleep deprivation to car accidents, relationship troubles, poor job performance, job-related injuries, memory problems, and mood disorders. Recent studies also suggest sleep disorders may contribute to heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

Symptoms of a Sleep Disorder

Symptoms depend on the type you have, but you might:

• Feel very sleepy during the day
• Have trouble falling or staying asleep
• Snore
• Stop breathing briefly and often while asleep (apnea)
• Have uncomfortable feelings in your legs and the urge to move them (restless legs syndrome)

The Sleep Cycle

There are two forms of sleep: REM and NREM. You dream during REM (rapid eye movement). It takes up 25% of your slumber, stretching into longer periods in the morning. The rest is spent in NREM, which has four stages from light (1) to deep (4). Sleep disorders mess with your normal cycle and keep you from getting a good night’s rest.

How Much Shuteye Do You Need?

It varies from person to person, but general guidelines are:

• 12-15 hours for infants
• 11-14 hours for toddlers (ages 1-3)
• 10-13 hours for preschoolers (ages 3-5)
• 9-11 hours for schoolchildren (ages 6-13)
• 8-10 hours for teens (ages 14-17)
• 7-8 hours for adults

 Keep in mind that some adults do fine with 5 hours, while others need as many as 10.

Insomnia

It’s normal to have trouble sleeping once in a while, but when the problem lingers night after night, you have insomnia. Do you lie awake for hours? Do you wake up too early and not able to drift off again? Do you wake up repeatedly throughout the night? Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder in the U.S., affecting a third of adults at some point in their lives.

Poor Sleep Hygiene

In many cases, insomnia is related to bad habits before bed. Do you drink coffee in the afternoon or evening? Do you smoke or eat heavy foods at night? Do you go to bed at a different time each night? Do you fall asleep with the television on?

Mental Health

Mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder can also cause insomnia. Unfortunately, some of the medications used to treat these conditions can also cause sleep problems. If you think you’re losing ZZZs and your medication is to blame, talk to your doctor about adjusting your treatment.

Related Medical Conditions

Trouble sleeping is often linked to health problems such as:

• Arthritis
• Heartburn
• Chronic pain
• Asthma
• COPD
• Heart failure
• Thyroid problems
• Neurological disorders such as stroke, Alzheimer’s, or Parkinson’s

Other Causes of Sleep Trouble

Pregnancy is another reason for insomnia, especially in the first and third trimesters. Menopause is, too, as hot flashes are uncomfortable. Both men and women tend to have sleep problems after age 65. And shift workers and frequent flyers can get a circadian rhythm disorder. This means their “internal body clock” is out of whack.

…TO BE CONTINUED

Originally published at WebMD