brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Overview of Sleep
Sleep disorders
Almost half of all people in the United States report problems with sleeping. (See also Sleep Problems in Children .) Sleep disorders involve disturbances in the ability to fall asleep, stay asleep, or stay awake or unusual behaviors during sleep, such as sleepwalking. Sleep can be disturbed by many factors, including irregular bedtimes, activities before bed, stress, diet, disorders, and drugs. The most common symptoms of sleep disorders are Insomnia and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) None Insomnia and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) None Insomnia can be a disorder or a symptom of another disorder. Excessive daytime sleepiness is not a disorder but a symptom of various sleep-related disorders. People with insomnia have difficulty falling and staying asleep and wake up feeling unrefreshed. They may wake up early. Lack of sleep makes people feel sleepy, tired, and irritable during the day. People with excessive daytime sleepiness tend to fall asleep during normal waking hours. Some sleep disorders make people unable to resist falling asleep during the day. Some sleep disorders involve involuntary movements of the limbs or other unusual behaviors (such as nightmares, night terrors, or sleepwalking) during sleep. Unusual movements and behaviors during sleep are called Parasomnias . Other symptoms may include problems with memory, coordination, and emotions. People may perform less well in school or at their jobs. The risk of having a motor vehicle accident or developing a heart disorder is increased. A detailed description of the problem, sometimes with information from a sleep log, usually indicates the diagnosis, but sometimes testing in a sleep laboratory is needed. This testing includes Testing . 