Sleep Disorders: Types, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

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Table of Contents

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Causes

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Treatment

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Sleep disorders, also known as sleep-wake disorders, are conditions that can affect the amount, timing, or quality of your sleep, causing you to feel tired in the daytime and have difficulty functioning as a result.

Millions of Americans aren’t getting enough sleep and 50 to 70 million Americans have one or more sleep disorders.If you or a loved onehaven’t been sleeping well, it’s important to visit a healthcare provider for an evaluation.

Sleepis a complex biological process during which your brain and body perform a number of functions that help you stay healthy; therefore, in addition to making you feel tired, not sleeping well can also affect your mental and physical health.

Not getting enough sleep can also affect your academic or work performance, interpersonal relationships, and safety. A 2019 study notes that sleep disorders can have a serious impact on your quality of life.

This article explores the types, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of sleep disorders.

Types of Sleep Disorders

While there are over 80 types of sleep disorders, these are some of the most common ones:

Understanding Sleep Paralysis

Symptoms of Sleep Disorders

The symptoms you experience can vary depending on the type of sleep disorder you have. These are some common symptoms of sleep disorders:

What Is Chronic Sleep Deprivation?

Causes of Sleep Disorders

13 Possible Reasons Why You’re Tired All the Time

Diagnosing Sleep Disorders

Treating Sleep Disorders

Treatment for sleeping disorders can vary depending on the type of disorder you have. These are some of the treatment options for sleeping disorders:

What Is Sleep Therapy?

A Word From Verywell

Not getting a good night’s sleep can leave most people tired, irritable, and cranky. Not sleeping well for several days on end can have more serious consequences as it can affect your physical andmental health, work, relationships, and ability to function.

If you suspect you or a loved one might have a sleeping disorder, it’s important to visit a healthcare provider for a diagnosis and treatment. Your primary care provider can refer you to a sleep specialist, if needed. There are treatment options that can help.

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychiatric Association.What are sleep disorders?Walia HK, Mehra R.Overview of common sleep disorders and intersection with dermatologic conditions.Int J Mol Sci. 2016;17(5):654. doi:10.3390/ijms17050654National Library of Medicine.Sleep disorders.K Pavlova M, Latreille V.Sleep disorders.Am J Med. 2019;132(3):292-299. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2018.09.021

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychiatric Association.What are sleep disorders?Walia HK, Mehra R.Overview of common sleep disorders and intersection with dermatologic conditions.Int J Mol Sci. 2016;17(5):654. doi:10.3390/ijms17050654National Library of Medicine.Sleep disorders.K Pavlova M, Latreille V.Sleep disorders.Am J Med. 2019;132(3):292-299. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2018.09.021

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Psychiatric Association.What are sleep disorders?Walia HK, Mehra R.Overview of common sleep disorders and intersection with dermatologic conditions.Int J Mol Sci. 2016;17(5):654. doi:10.3390/ijms17050654National Library of Medicine.Sleep disorders.K Pavlova M, Latreille V.Sleep disorders.Am J Med. 2019;132(3):292-299. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2018.09.021

American Psychiatric Association.What are sleep disorders?

Walia HK, Mehra R.Overview of common sleep disorders and intersection with dermatologic conditions.Int J Mol Sci. 2016;17(5):654. doi:10.3390/ijms17050654

National Library of Medicine.Sleep disorders.

K Pavlova M, Latreille V.Sleep disorders.Am J Med. 2019;132(3):292-299. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2018.09.021

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