Top 10 Sleep Disorders and Sleep Problems

Getting between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night can be a challenge for many people. If you are dissatisfied with the amount and quality of sleep you are getting, you may have a sleep disorder. Some sleep disorders are caused by medical problems and others are caused by lifestyle and sleep habits.

1) Insomnia
Between 30 and 40 percent of adults report some difficultly falling asleep or staying asleep each year. In American, 10 to 15 percent of all adults reports long-term, chronic insomnia. Insomnia can be attributed to medical conditions, poor sleep habits, medications and many other causes. Insomnia can be treated through medications, lifestyle changes and other techniques.

2) Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
Between 5 and 15 percent of adults have some form of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). It is a disorder that causes a tingling or prickling sensation in the legs that is temporarily eased by moving the legs. People with RLS feel an impulse to stretch and move their legs to stop the pain. These movements interfere both with falling asleep and staying asleep.

3) Sleep Apnea
Between 5 and 25 percent of American adults have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder in which breathing is interrupted 5 to 100 times per hour. Often these interruptions are not enough to wake a person, but significantly disturb sleep. People with sleep apnea often feel tired and fatigued. Treatment for sleep apnea varies from changing sleep habits to surgery.

4) Snoring
Snoring can be a sign that something is not quite right. People who snore often are at risk for heart disease, diabetes and other health conditions. Snoring can be treated, which will improve overall health through a more restful sleep pattern.

5) Falling Asleep
Because of poor sleep habits, many people spend more than 15 minutes each night trying to fall asleep. Reading or watching television in bed and other habits train our bodies to stay awake longer and be awake in bed. By adjusting our sleep habits, we can retrain ourselves to fall asleep quickly and stay asleep all night.

6) Night Shift
Night shift work can alter your sleep habits. While working the night shift, it is important to make sure you are getting enough quality sleep. This not only will make you feel more energized, but it will also protect your health from the long-term effects of lack of sleep.

7) Jet Lag
Jet lag can seriously affect sleep. This common travel problem makes it difficult for the body to adjust to a new time zone.

8) Sleep and Driving
Driving while sleepy is dangerous, causing more than 1,500 deaths a year. Relying on caffeine and stimulants to keep you awake can be dangerous. Instead, plan ahead to get good sleep before you go and schedule breaks to take short naps.

9) Nocturia
Nocturia is a word for waking up to urinate once or more each night. The causes of nocturia vary, but treatment can include drinking liquids and taking medication earlier in the day.

10) Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a serious sleep disorder that affects between 250,000 and 350,000 Americans. Narcolepsy is marked by excessive daytime sleepiness, often resulting in sleep attacks that last from a few seconds to 30 minutes. Other symptoms include vivid dreams, sleep paralysis and cataplexy.

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