Sleep Disorders in Annapolis, MD

Common Sleep Disorders

Any condition that impairs sleeping well at night and disturbs daytime functioning—often manifested as excessive daytime sleepiness—is a sleep disorder. The most common sleep disorders are insomnia and sleep apnea.

Questionnaire for recognizing excessive daytime sleepiness

Insomnia

Insomnia includes trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep or waking too early. Insomnia may be due to stress or poor sleep hygiene (bedtime habits). It is also frequently a symptom of a sleep disorder or other medical problem.

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Snoring/Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is a breathing disorder that occurs when air cannot flow into or out of the person’s nose or mouth, although efforts to breathe continue. These breathing pauses are almost always accompanied by snoring. Sleep apnea can also be accompanied by choking sensations. Sleep apnea is most common in men and overweight individuals. Untreated, it is linked to high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Sleep Testing in Annapolis, MD

Annapolis Asthma, Pulmonary & Sleep Specialists diagnoses sleep disorders and determines a solution to allow patients to regain control of their lives and return to a fully-functional lifestyle. If you believe that you may be suffering from a sleep disorder, request your appointment online or call our office in Annapolis, MD at (410) 266-1644.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder involving the central nervous system. In patients with narcolepsy, the messages sent by the brain to the body about when to sleep and when to be awake arrive in the wrong place at the wrong time. People with narcolepsy experience “sleep attacks” that can occur at any time. When falling asleep or waking up, people with narcolepsy may experience brief paralysis and/or vivid images and sounds.

Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders (sleep scheduling, shift work)

These sleep disorders affect, among other things, the timing of sleep. People with circadian rhythm sleep disorders are unable to sleep and wake at the times required for normal work, school, and social needs. They are generally able to get enough sleep if allowed to sleep and wake at the times dictated by their body clocks.

Parasomnias

Restless legs syndrome, night terrors, nightmares, sleepwalking

Parasomnias are a category of sleep disorders that involve abnormal and unnatural movements, behaviors, emotions, perceptions, and dreams that occur while falling asleep, sleeping, between sleep stages, or arousal from sleep. Most parasomnias are dissociated sleep states which occur during the transitions between wakefulness and NREM sleep, or wakefulness and REM sleep.

Some examples of parasomnias which occur during a sleep-wake transition are; rhythmic movement disorder seen in children, nocturnal leg cramps, sleep talking, sleep starts, night terrors and sleepwalking. All of these are treatable.

Other parasomnias which occur during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep are; nightmares, REM sleep behavior disorder or “acting out dreams”, sleep paralysis and sleep-related penile tumescence.

Finally, other parasomnias, which can be REM or non-REM are bruxism (grinding teeth), sleep enuresis (bed wetting) and finally nocturnal paroxysmal dystonia (seizure-like motions).