What are the sleep disorders?

Sleep disorders are very common in the general population. They affect children, adults and older people alike.

The most common sleep disorder is insomnia, both acute and chronic. Snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, sleepwalking, sleep paralysis and restless legs syndrome are also very common. Each of these conditions affects up to 5% of the population, either temporarily or chronically.

Other less common disorders include REM sleep behavior disorder, night eating syndrome (NES), catathrenia, narcolepsy and fatal familial insomnia. Although less prevalent, it is important to be aware of these conditions because of their potential severity.

It is also important to consider sex differences. Pregnancy and menopause are associated with specific sleep disorders in women. In men, on the other hand, nocturia caused by prostate problems is a common cause of sleep fragmentation.

From a neurological perspective, it is important to recognize that certain autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as some types of cancer, are frequently associated with sleep disorders, which may be a common reason for seeking medical advice. Examples include multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and tumors of the central nervous system.

• Disorders associated with difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep:
  • Chronic insomnia
  • Restless legs syndrome
• Disorders associated with excessive daytime sleepiness:
  • Narcolepsy
  • Sleep apnea
  • Idiopathic hypersomnia
• Disorders involving abnormal behaviors during sleep, or parasomnias:
  • Sleepwalking
  • Night terrors
• REM sleep behavior disorder
• Sleep-wake rhythm disorders:
  • Jet lag
  • Shift work
  • Delayed sleep phase syndrome
  • Advanced sleep phase syndrome