Types of Sleep Disorders

Common Sleep Problems & Their Treatment Options

A sleep study includes single or multiple diagnostic tests performed by a qualified technician to help diagnose a number of sleep disorders. The tests are non-invasive and do not use any needles, injectable dyes, IVs or shots. In some cases, the sleep study can be conducted in the privacy of the patient’s home.

Common Sleep Disorders & Treatment

• Insomnia: A condition in which a person has difficulty falling asleep or frequently wakes up during the night. Treatment options include prescription medication and behavioral management techniques or both.
• Narcolepsy: A neurological condition characterized by daytime sleep attacks, a lack of energy, muscle weakness with emotion, sleep-related hallucinations, sleepiness and/or muscle paralysis. Treatment usually involves medication and adjustments in lifestyle.
• Nightmares: Disturbing dreams that disrupt the ability to stay asleep and can contribute to difficulty falling asleep. They frequently cause distress especially at night but also during the daytime. Treatments include behavior, relaxation and rescripting techniques.
• Parasomnia: A sleep disorder, most common in children, where a person is aroused during sleep, resulting in unusual behavior such as sleep walking, sleep terror, nightmares and sleep eating. Treatment involves behavioral therapy, prescription medication and/or identification and treatment of an underlying medical condition.
• Sleep Apnea: This is the most common sleep disorder, which includes a disruption with breathing during sleep and frequent awakenings. Treatment options include lifestyle modification, dental appliances, surgery or use of a positive airway pressure (PAP) machine.
• Snoring: Involves the vibration of tissue in a partially obstructed airway, resulting in sleep disruptions and abnormal breathing patterns. Treatment options include lifestyle modification, surgery, dental appliances or change in sleep position.

Complete this simple quiz to see if you are at risk for obstructive sleep apnea.