The full spectrum of sleep disorders.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a medical condition where the patient stops breathing for 10 or more seconds during sleep. This cessation of breathing is called apnea. These episodes can occur several times throughout the night.

An estimated 18 million Americans suffer from Sleep Apnea, yet up to 95% of cases go undiagnosed and untreated. The National Commission on Sleep Disorders attributes 38,000 cardiovascular deaths a year to Sleep Apnea.

Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless Legs Syndrome is a discomfort in the legs which is relieved by moving or stimulating the legs. This feeling is difficult to describe and commonly referred to as a crawling, tingling or prickling sensation.

Most people find the symptoms to be less noticeable during the day and more pronounced in the evening or at night, especially during the onset of sleep. For many people, the symptoms disappear by early morning, allowing for more refreshing sleep at that time.

Once diagnosed, treatment has been found useful for many patients.

Insomnia

Insomnia can be very common — 10% of adults in the United States have Chronic Insomnia, and 30% experience an acute episode of Insomnia in a year. Insomnia is the inability to get enough sleep, or restful sleep. The average adult needs 7–9 hours of quality sleep.

Insomnia can be caused by a number of medical or behavioral factors such as stress, tension, shift-work, and more.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy patients experience an irresistible need to sleep, regardless of the amount of sleep they get. People with narcolepsy can fall asleep at any time, such as while at work, talking, or driving a car. These "sleep attacks" can last from 30 seconds to more than 30 minutes.

Narcolepsy is a less common sleep disorder which affects less than 1% of the population. Its onset can occur at any time throughout life, but its peak onset is during the teen years.

Parasomnias

Parasomnias are automatic behaviors during sleep, such as sleep talking, sleep walking or night terrors. These behaviors can be disruptive to both the person experiencing them and their bed partner, and they may carry safety risks depending on the type and severity.

Diagnosis often involves a sleep history, sleep diary, and in some cases overnight monitoring. Treatment is tailored to the specific parasomnia and underlying contributing factors.

Circadian Rhythm Disorders

Circadian Rhythm Disorders involve disruption of the sleep-wake cycle. The sleep-wake cycle can be shifted earlier or later and may be related to our natural tendencies to be morning larks or night owls.

Common types include delayed sleep phase disorder, advanced sleep phase disorder, shift work disorder, and jet lag. Light therapy, melatonin, and structured behavioral plans are often part of treatment.

Idiopathic Hypersomnia

Idiopathic Hypersomnia (IH) is a sleep disorder in which a person experiences excessive daytime sleepiness but has an adequate or prolonged amount of nighttime sleep. Many persons with IH have difficulty waking up in the morning, and most have prolonged periods of sleep inertia, referred to as "sleep drunkenness."

Diagnosis generally involves a comprehensive workup to rule out other major causes of excessive sleepiness such as sleep apnea or narcolepsy — typically including a thorough medical history and sleep studies (overnight polysomnography followed by a Multiple Sleep Latency Test).

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) is a sleep-related movement disorder characterized by involuntary acts of the legs or arms during sleep in a periodic and repetitive manner. These limb movements can cause frequent arousals, disrupting sleep quality and leading to excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue.

PLMD is also sometimes called nocturnal myoclonus. While it can affect anyone, it occurs most often in middle-aged and older adults. Many people with PLMD only realize they have it when a bed partner mentions the movements or when persistent daytime fatigue prompts evaluation.