Sleep disorders are a group of conditions that affect the ability to sleep on a regular basis. Most of us have experienced trouble sleeping at one time or another. This is normal and usually temporary; due to stress or other outside factors. But if it continues and interfere with your daily life, you may be suffering from a sleep disorder. The lack of quality sleep can have a negative impact on your energy, emotional balance, and health.

Some common sleep disorders include sleep apnea (temporary cessation of respiration), narcolepsy (Excessive sleepiness at inappropriate times), cataplexy (sudden and transient loss of muscle tone while awake), and sleeping sickness (disruption of sleep cycle due to infection).Other disorders include sleepwalking, night terrors and bed wetting. Management of sleep disturbances that are secondary to mental, medical, or substance abuse disorders should focus on the underlying conditions.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SLEEP DISORDER:

• Adults with sleep disorder feel sleepy or irritable during the day. They find difficulty staying awake while sitting (i.e. watching television, reading a book), driving, etc.
• Adults with sleep disorder have memory problems, emotional outbursts and difficulty concentrating at work, school, or home.

Sleep disorders in adults may increase the chances of developing hypertension, heart disease, mood disorders and memory problems. If indicated, following an outpatient evaluation, patients are referred for an overnight sleep study.

• Some common sleep disorder symptoms to look for in children are snoring/breathing difficulties while sleeping, bedtime refusal, insomnia, sleepwalking, sleep terrors, nightmares or night time fears, unusual sleep behaviours, excessive daytime sleepiness, bedwetting and difficulty falling or remaining asleep.
  Sleep disorders in children can lead to behaviour problems and mood disturbances. A paediatric neurologist evaluates children, suspected of suffering from sleep dysfunction. If indicated, following an outpatient evaluation, patients are referred for an overnight sleep study.