Snoring and Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Snoring by itself may not be all that dangerous, however, it is a signal that breathing during sleep may be abnormal. When you don't breathe properly in sleep, your brain does not receive the oxygen it needs. Individuals with sleep apnea are at higher risk for heart disease and stroke. More information found on our "FAQs" page.
Symptoms include:
- Loud, persistent snoring and snorting
- Pauses in breathing during sleep
- Waking with a dry mouth or headache
- Waking feeling un-refreshed
- Excessive sleepiness during the day
- Depression and/or low libido
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Insomnia
Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder. Insomnia can range from occasional to chronic, but is best described as a persistent difficulty getting to sleep, staying asleep, or premature morning awakening. More information found on our "FAQs" page.
Symptoms include:
- Trouble getting to sleep
- Trouble staying asleep
- Un-refreshing sleep
- Feeling fatigued, sleepy or depressed due to lack of sleep
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Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
RLS is a disorder that can make it difficult to fall asleep, or to get back to sleep. It is a disorder that affects legs and/or arms and involves your brain, spinal cord and muscles. With RLS, uncomfortable and often very distressing feelings in your limbs make it difficult to sleep.
Symptoms include:
- Creepy crawly sensations in the legs or arms, especially when at rest
- Uncomfortable sensations relieved by rubbing or moving around
- Symptoms begin in early evening and intensify as bedtime approaches
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Narcolepsy
The brain is designed to keep us alert and awake to function well during the day. For some people the urge to sleep, despite sleeping okay at night, is irresistible. In some cases, sleep overcomes an individual at the most inopportune times such as while driving, at school or at work. The brain's balance between staying awake and going to sleep can be dysfunctional leading to involuntary sleep episodes. Sleepiness may be accompanied by some unusual symptoms that are unique to narcolepsy.
Symptoms include:
- Sleep attacks
- Often fighting to stay awake
- Excessive sleepiness
- Feeling frozen or paralyzed upon waking
- Feeling a loss of muscle tone in response to strong emotion like laughing or being angry
- Hearing or seeing something as you fall asleep or wake up that you know later was not really there
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Parasomnias: Unwanted Behaviors in Sleep
We all think of sleep and wake as being completely independent of each other. However, for some people the brain overlaps between the waking and sleeping states. When this happens, undesirable sleep behaviors may occur. These behaviors are more commonly seen in childhood and are usually not a serious concern except when they are intense and disrupt the family. In adults, unsafe and dangerous sleep behaviors may occur.
Symptoms include:
- Acting out dreams
- Sleep walking
- Sleep eating
- Night terrors
- Sleep-related violence or injury
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Shift Work and Circadian Sleep Disorders
Shift Work or Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders affect people who commonly rotate shifts or work during the night. This disorder occurs most frequently among people who work between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. These work schedules work against the body's natural Circadian Rhythm and often result in insomnia and excessive sleepiness.
Symptoms include:
- Insomnia
- Excessive sleepiness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Headaches
- Lack of energy
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The Atlanta Sleep Medicine Clinic treats a wide range of sleeping disorders beyond those mentioned here. To discover if you have a sleep disorder and if so, what treatment we suggest, please schedule a sleep consultation with our board certified sleep doctor, Michael Lacey, MD.