Types of Sleeping Disorders  and Sleeping Problems

Dyssomnias and Parasomnias

There are many different types of sleep disorders, some result from psychiatric and medical conditions, while others may result from the pressures and stress of normal living, inadequate nutrition, lack of sleep hygiene, allergies, aging, pregnancy, drug use such as alcohol and cigarettes, shift work, and living at high altitudes are some of the influences which may produce disordered sleep.

Dyssomnias are associated with excessive sleepiness, difficulties in initiating or maintaining sleep, and excessive day time sleepiness. Dyssomnias can be divided into three types:

Intrinsic: Obstructive sleep apnea,  central sleep apnea,  insomnia,  narcolepsy,  hypersomnia,  periodic limb movement disorder,  restless leg syndrome.

Extrinsic: Insufficient sleep syndrome, poor sleep hygiene, environmental influences, altitude insomnia, food allergy, nocturnal eating syndrome, adjustment sleep disorder, drug and alcohol dependent insomnia.

Circadian disorders: Time zone change,  delayed sleep phase, advanced sleep phase, shift work sleep disorder, irregular sleep wake sleep disorder.

Parasomnias are not always associated with disrupted sleep, they are mainly characterized by partial arousal during sleep, or during the transition from sleep to wakefulness. They include arousal disorders, REM associated disorder, sleep wake transition disorder, and a number of other sleep behavior disorders.

Arousal disorders  include confusional arousals, sexsomnia, sleep walking disorder and night terrors.

REM associated parasomnias include: nightmares, sleep paralysis, REM sleep behavior disorder.

Sleep wake transition disorders include, rhythmic movement disorder,sleep starts, sleep talking, nocturnal cramps.

Other parasomnias include: bruxism or teeth grinding, enuresis, primary snoring, infant sleep apnea, nocturnal paroxysmal dystonia, sudden unexplained night time death, sudden infant death syndrome, nocturnal sleep myoclonus, and abnormal swallowing syndrome.

Sleep Disorders and Serotonin Deficiency

Snoring and sleep apnea                  Diagnosing sleep apnea                   Obstructive sleep apnea

Sleep apnea complications            Central Sleep Apnea

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Cause of Insomnia                         Hormones and Sleep           Sleeping Problems in the Elderly

Sleep debt                         Sleep on Command                Chromatherapy

Natural Sleep remedies                       Melatonin, tart cherries and sleep       Valerian forSleep            

EFT for Insomnia                            Homeopathic Remedies for Insomnia         

Bach Flower Remedies for Sleep Disorders        Chronotherapy for Delayed Onset Sleep Disorder