What are the Most Common Sleep Disorders?

There are a surprising number of sleep disorders, and millions of people suffer from them right now. Many more don't realize that they have a sleep disorder, and lose hundreds of hours of sleep a year without realizing it.

What can we do to combat this? Well, learn about the different sleep disorders, of course - because the more you know, the more you'll be able to do about it. Sleep disorders are a serious problem.

Insomnia

Some consider this the most common sleep disorder, but others disagree - however, there's no question that it's extremely prevalent in today's society, and many people don't even realize that what they're suffering form indeed has a name.

Basically, insomnia is when you have trouble falling asleep, and staying asleep. Some people who suffer describe it as an issue with turning off their mind 'off'. They can't stop thinking about things, and because of that, they don't get enough sleep.

RLS

Creepy... crawly... pins and needles up your legs, like a million little bugs crawling from your toes to your hips. It's hard to fight the urge to move your legs most of the time, and it can keep you up at night.

Sound familiar? It's Restless Leg Syndrome, or RLS, and a lot of people have it - many shake it off as something that everyone feels, but it is one of the many sleep disorders plaguing millions of people.

Narcolepsy

Ever feel excessively tired, especially in the daytime? Even if you feel like you've slept all night, you can't help but feel tired during the day? Are naps nearly impossible to stave off, and are your nights feeling like you can only get a few hours in before you fall back asleep?

That might not just be 'laziness', as some might insinuate - it might just be narcolepsy. Other symptoms are loss of muscle function, sleep paralysis, and hypnagonia hallucinations, which are vivid hallucinations that feel almost dream-like.

Sleep Walking

Usually in the deep stages of sleep, and not when you first lay down, sleep walking is a surprisingly common thing that happens to many people each night. Sometimes there are isolated incidents, but more likely, if it's happened once, it's going to happen again.

Most of the time, simple things happen - getting up to leave the room, walking into the living room, and even pacing can all happen while you're sleeping. However, more serious things can occur - people have been known to rearrange furniture, drive a car, cook a meal, and more.

It's a bit scary, it's dangerous, and it may - at the extreme - cost you your life.

Overall...

Sleep disorders can be very, very scary at worst, and an uncomfortable happening at best. Don't be fooled into thinking that your sleep disorder isn't serious, because even having a minor case of something can ruin your well being.