Sleep disorders are conditions that result in changes in the way that you sleep. Common types of sleep disorders include:

• Insomnia – difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night
• Sleep apnea – experiencing abnormal patterns in breathing while asleep
• Restless legs syndrome (RLS) – a sleep movement disorder that affects the legs
• Narcolepsy – a condition characterized by extreme sleepiness during the day and falling asleep suddenly during the day

Signs & Symptoms

Symptoms of sleep disorders include:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Trouble falling asleep at night
• Falling asleep at inappropriate times
• Breathing in an unusual pattern
• Feeling the urge to move while falling asleep
• Unusual or bothersome movements while sleeping
• Irregular sleep and wake cycle

Diagnosis

There are many ways for a Deborah Specialty Physician to help sleep disorders. Suggesting the patient undergo a sleep study is usually the first step.