A somnipathy, or sleep disorder, is a condition that negatively impacts a person’s sleep patterns. There are several kinds of sleep disorders, and experts often classify them based on their causes or how they affect the individual.
The most common types of sleep disorders are parasomnias and dyssomnias. Let’s take a look at these two categories and how they can affect a patient, and who you can talk to for help with your own sleep issues.
Types of Parasomnia
This category of sleep disorders involves abnormal behaviors, movements, and dreams that take place when sleeping. Some of these may be harmless, such as talking in your sleep, whereas others can be potentially dangerous, such as sleepwalking.
Some relatively common conditions under the category of parasomnia include the following:
Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD)
People with RBD will experience acting out their dreams – and often unpleasant ones. Dreams are most vivid during the REM part of the sleep cycle, and people with RBD may find themselves vocalizing and flailing their limbs around while they’re asleep.
Sleep Talking
This parasomnia is when people talk out loud while they sleep. They may mumble, whisper, or loudly make verbal noise. Their words do not have to be coherent to be considered sleep talking.
Sleepwalking
Many people have only seen sleepwalking occur in movies or television. However, it is a real and potentially dangerous condition. Its other names are somnambulism and noctambulism.
This disorder is a combination of sleep and wakefulness, wherein the individual is not fully awake or aware. The main problem is that the person could trip and become injured when walking while asleep. Also, the person may lie down elsewhere in the home and not wake up on time in the morning, thereby missing (or being late to) work or school.
Types of Dyssomnia
This classification of sleep disorders involves difficulty falling asleep or remaining asleep, as well as excessive sleepiness during the day. Thus, they affect the quantity, quality, and timing of sleep that a person gets.
The most common sleep issues that are categorized as dyssomnia include the following:
Insomnia
With insomnia, or sleeplessness, people find it a challenge to fall asleep or stay asleep. They may wake up several times throughout the night. The following day, they often feel tired, sleepy, and irritable. This health condition may also occur secondarily to another disorder such as depression, anxiety, pregnancy, diabetes, or asthma.
Insomnia is a commonly reported sleep problem, with about 50% of adults experiencing the condition at some point in their lives. However, these bouts do not usually last long enough to be classified as chronic insomnia.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is when an individual experiences excessive sleepiness during the day, and they also have episodes when they involuntarily fall asleep suddenly. This is a neurological disorder, so the person has no control over the times when they unexpectedly fall asleep. This condition can become dangerous if a person suddenly falls asleep during a potentially hazardous situation, such as when driving.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a disorder wherein an individual experiences periods of shallow or interrupted breathing while asleep. The pause may be brief, lasting only a couple of seconds, or it may last up to a few minutes. Affected individuals may also loudly snore as they resume breathing. However, the lack of proper oxygenation can eventually lead to heart problems and other health issues.
Sleep Specialists in Weatherford, TX
If you’re experiencing problems related to sleep, it’s best to see a sleep specialist for proper diagnosis and possible treatment. Our medical team at the Lung & Sleep Specialists of North Texas are qualified to perform physical exams, interpret results, and create treatment plans that will help you get back to feeling great after a good night’s sleep every night.
If you are interested in a sleep analysis and medical examination, contact our friendly staff today by calling (817) 594-9993 or by filling out our appointment request form online now. Let us help you attain quality sleep again – so you can feel energized during your day.