A sleep disorder (somnipathy) is a medical disorder of the sleep patterns of a person or animal. Some sleep disorders are serious enough to interfere with normal physical, mental and emotional functioning. A test commonly ordered for some sleep disorders is the polysomnography.
Disruptions in sleep can be caused by a variety of issues, from teeth grinding (bruxism) to night terrors. When a person suffers from difficulty in sleeping with no obvious cause, it is referred to as insomnia. In addition, sleep disorders may also cause sufferers to sleep excessively, a condition known as hypersomnia. Management of sleep disturbances that are secondary to mental, medical, or substance abuse disorders should focus on the underlying conditions.
Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome - sleeps and wakes too early; usually in aging adults
Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome - sleeps and wakes too late, usually in teens
Gastroesophageal Reflux - heartburn and regurgitation of stomach contents during sleep
Idiopathic Hypersomnia - extreme daytime sleepiness and extreme difficulty awakening from sleep and post-awakening confusion
Inadequate Sleep Hygiene - bad sleep habits that keep your sleep from being refreshing.
Jet Lag - disturbed sleep, decreased alertness and impaired daytime function due to time zone travel
Nightmares - frightening dreams that can be recalled
Nocturnal Enuresis - chronic bedwetting
Nocturnal Hyperphagia - eating while asleep
Panic Disorder - awakening with chest pain that brings on panic attacks
Periodic Limb Movement Disorder - limb movements while sleeping that disrupt sleep patterns
REM Behavior Disorder - acting out dreams with limb movements while asleep
Rhythmic Movement Disorder - repetitive, and sometime harmful, movements during sleep (headbanging, bodyrocking, headrolling, etc.)
Shiftwork Sleep Disorder - sleep problems occurring from change of sleep cycle
Sleep Hyperhidrosis - extreme sweating while asleep
Sleep Paralysis - inability to move upon awakening
Sleep Terrors - frightening dreams that can't be remembered
Somnambulism - walking/performing activities while asleep
Somniloquy - talking during sleep