When dealing with a snoring problem, you could be faced with one of two issues: primary snoring or the more sinister Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or OSA. To understand the differences between these two types of snoring, you must understand exactly how the snoring process works.

Additionally, it is important to understand the difference because while primary snoring can simply be an irritant to your partner, Obstructive Sleep Apnea can lead to other significant health problems, and in some cases can even be deadly!

Common Sleeping Disorders

Introduction to Sleep Disorders

If you are having trouble sleeping, you may be suffering from a common sleeping disorder. Common sleeping disorders can not only affect the quality of sleep you get each night but also affect your performance during the day. People that suffer from common sleeping disorders can feel groggy in the morning, fatigued during the day and be moody and irritable.

A sleep disorder (also known as somnipathy) is a disorder in the sleep patterns of a person or animal. Some sleep disorders can cause a range of issues and complications and can also interfere with mental and emotional function. The most common sleeping disorders are discussed below

General Caregories of Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders are generally categorized into two broad groups. Dyssomnias are a broad range of sleeping disorders that make it difficult for a person to get to sleep or to stay asleep. There are over 30 recognized kinds of dyssomnias and all involve a lack of sleep. A parasomnia, which involves disturbed sleep, is any sleep disorder which is characterized by partial arousals during sleep. Stress, depression, and biological factors may also be involved.

Selected Sleep Disorders

Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome (ASPS) is a sleep disorder in which sufferers feel very sleepy early in the evening (e.g. 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM) and wide-awake later in the night (e.g. midnight, 1:00 AM, etc).

Delayed Sleep-Phase Syndrome (DSPS) is a chronic sleep disorder in which the patient's internal body clock is not in sync with the morning-rise / evening-sleep pattern of the majority of adults. The disorder can lead to psychological and functional difficulties. People who have this disorder often appear to be "night owls", because they are awake most of the night and sleep for most of the day.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a sleep disorder characterized by repeated awakenings during the night due to unpleasant burning and choking sensations resulting from stomach acid flowing upward into the throat while asleep.

Many people that are unable to fall asleep at night or that fall asleep and awake during the night and are not able to fall back asleep usually fall into the category of insomnia. Insomnia is defined as the inability to fall asleep or get enough quality sleep each night.

Another common sleeping disorder that affects hundreds of thousands of people is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a blockage in the throat or mouth that stops air flow to the lungs. This can cause a person to wake up dozens of times a night. A person can stop breathing only a few seconds or up to a minute before they instinctually wake up. Obviously, waking up dozens of times per night reduces the quality and length of sleep. Although sleep apnea is more serious than insomnia, it can be treated easily and usually with positive results. One of the ways sleep apnea is treated is with a CPAP machine, which is a device that looks like a mask that keeps airwaves open and delivers oxygen to the lungs.

Another sleep disorder, nacrolepsy, is relatively common and for some people can be a serious ailment. Narcolepsy is defined as the uncontrollable urge to fall asleep. Many people that suffer from narcolepsy can fall asleep at almost anytime or anywhere. Many people that suffer from narcolepsy must be extremely careful when they drive a car or work heavy machinery.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) (also called Wittmaack-Ekbom's Syndrome) is a neurological sleep disorder that involves an irresistible and uncontrollable urge to move in order to stop uncomfortable, painful, or odd sensations in the body, most commonly in the legs. Moving the affected body part eliminates the sensation, providing temporary relief. Many people only experience symptoms when they try to sleep, while other experience symptoms during the day.

Rapid Eye Movement Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia sleep disorder characterized by the acting out of violent or dramatic dreams while in REM sleep.

Night Terror (also called Pavor Nocturnus and Sleep Terror), is a parasomnia sleep disorder characterized by extreme terror and a temporary inability to regain full consciousness. During a Night Terror episode, a person wakes abruptly from the fourth stage of sleep (a very deep stage of sleep), with waking usually accompanied by gasping, moaning, or even screaming. It is difficult and often impossible to fully wake the person, and after the episode they normally settle back to sleep without waking.

Sleepwalking (also written as Sleep Walking and also called Noctambulism and Somnambulism) is a parasomnia sleep disorder where the sufferer engages in activities that are normally associated with wakefulness (such as eating, dressing, or walking) while asleep or in a sleep-like state, without the conscious knowledge of the person.

Snoring is not technically a sleeping disorder, but it can be a symptom of deeper sleep related problems, and may cause sleep issues for the sufferer's bed partner. Snoring has also been implicated in a range of other health complications, such as heart disease and stroke. Most of the time snoring is not a health risk to the snorer, but snoring resulting from a significant obstruction of the breathing passage can be an indication of the potentially life-threatening Sleep Apnea

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) (also called Nocturnal Myoclonus) is a sleep disorder where the sufferer moves involuntarily during sleep. This can range from a small amount of movement in the ankles and toes, to slow jerking movements, right up to wild flailing of all arms and legs. These involuntarily movements are more common in the legs than arms. PLMD also affects the sufferer's ability to sleep at night and function normally during the next day.

Jet Lag (also written as jetlag and jet-lag, and also known as Desynchronosis, Dysrhythmia, and Dyschrony) is a condition resulting from alterations to a person's circadian rhythm. Such alterations may be caused by shift work, transmeridian travel (travel to different time zones in different locations), or altered day length.

Sleep Paralysis is a condition characterized by temporary paralysis of the body either shortly before falling asleep or shortly after waking up. If the paralysis occurs shortly after waking up, which is the most common form of sleep paralysis, then this is known as Hypnopompic Paralysis. If the paralysis occurs shortly before falling asleep, which is the least common form of sleep paralysis, then this is known as Hypnagogic Paralysis.

Sleep Bruxism is grinding or clenching of the teeth during sleep, both of which can cause a range of problems. Sleep Bruxism often occurs during sleep, and may even occur during short naps. Usually, the canine teeth and incisors are ground against each other with a side to side motion, which abrades tooth enamel, removes the sharp biting surfaces, and flattens the edges of the teeth.

Hypersomnia is an excessive amount of sleepiness, resulting in an inability to stay awake. Even though hypersomniacs sleep more than is considered necessary (or even healthy) at night, they may still need to take frequent naps during the day.

If you think that you or a loved one may be suffering from these common sleeping disorders, it is advisable that you consult your physician for a proper diagnosis as well as possible treatment options.

This Website is intended to provide assistance and information to people who are interested in learning more about snoring problems, or who may be worried about the possible snoring associated with Sleep Apnea, or the friends, family, or relatives of those who might suffer or be at risk of suffering from snoring problems.

While the articles on this Website were written with great care, errors or omissions may occur. The information is provided "as-is", without any warranty whether expressed or implied. All readers agree to use the information provided on this site entirely at their own risk.

The information provided here is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a basis for any form of diagnosis or treatment for any medical condition whatsoever - including Snoring Problems.

Always seek the advice of a professional medical doctor.

Sleep Disorders (Home)   |   Snoring Problems Sitemap   |   Contact Us