Sleep Disorders

Insomnia• Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is

defined by difficulty falling asleep.• There are two types of insomnia:

– Primary insomnia: the insomnia isn’t associated with another health condition.

– Secondary insomnia: the insomnia is associated with another health condition (asthma, arthritis, heartburn, etc).

• Insomnia can be treated with practicing sleep habits, medication, and/or behavioral therapy.

Narcolepsy• Narcolepsy is a sleeping

disorder that affects wakefulness and the brain’s control of sleep.

• The cause is unknown, but it is thought to be a genetic disorder resulting from mutated genes that are supposed to control the production of neurotransmitters that regulate sleep.

• Narcolepsy can be treated with medications and lifestyle changes.

Sleep Apnea• Sleep apnea is a chronic sleeping

condition that involves pauses in breathing while sleeping.

• Depending on the severity, sleep apnea can cause the airway to narrow or close completely.

• Sleep apnea can be treated with lifestyle changes, but the most common treatment is a breathing device, like the one shown to the left. These devices blow air into the throat in order to keep the airway open during sleep.

Sleepwalking

• Sleepwalking is a disorder that causes one to walk and perform various tasks while asleep.

• Sleepwalking may have a genetic link: research has shown that one is 10 times more likely to sleepwalk if a first-degree relative has a history of sleepwalking.

• Treatments for sleepwalking include medication, relaxation techniques and mental imagery.

Night Terrors• Night terrors are sleep

disruptions in which one wakes up amidst a terrified state.

• They occur most often in children.

• Treatments for night terrors include coping mechanisms, lifestyle changes and medication.

Works Cited"How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?" NIH. NIH. Web. 31 Jan. 2014.

<http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sleepapnea/treatment.html>.

"Insomnia (Chronic and Acute Insomnia) Causes and Symptoms." WebMD. WebMD. Web. 31 Jan. 2014. <http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/insomnia-symptoms-and-causes>.

"Night Terror: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Web. 31 Jan. 2014. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000809.htm>.

"Sleepwalking Treatments and Prevention." WebMD. WebMD, 03 Jan. 2012. Web. 31 Jan. 2014. <http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/how-is-sleepwalking-treated>.

"What Is Narcolepsy, Symptoms & Causes - WebMD." WebMD. WebMD. Web. 31 Jan. 2014. <http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/narcolepsy?page=2>.