Bed-wetting: Also known as nocturnal enuresis, a regular occurrence for children who are in the toilet-training process. Abnormal if a child continues to wet more than twice a month after the age of five or six. Bed-wetting could be symptomatic of psychological stress or an indication of an underlying medical condition, such as an obstruction of the urinary tract.

Circadian Rhythm Disorders: Disorders that pertain to the body’s natural sleep/wake cycles. All people have a circadian, or 24-hour rhythm that affects when people feel sleepy versus alert. Light and dark cycles set these rhythms, which influence body temperature, sleep, wakefulness, and a variety of hormonal changes. Common among people with nontraditional work schedules, symptoms include: difficulty sleeping during the day; inability to fall asleep until very late; trouble waking in time for work or school, known as delayed sleep phase syndrome; and sleepiness in the early afternoon.

CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) Machine: A device that forces compressed air into the nasal passages via a nose mask to keep airway open during sleep. Often used to treat sleep apnea.

Excessive Daytime Somnolence (EDS): “Voluntary" sleep restriction is the most common cause of EDS. Other common causes include sleep-fragmenting disorders such as the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Somewhat less common are EDS conditions arising from central nervous system dysfunction, such as narcolepsy.

Insomnia: Most common sleep disorder. Characterized by trouble sleeping on a regular basis, insomnia does not allow the rest the brain needs to function optimally. Depression, excessive daytime sleep, alcohol, food, and caffeine are some of the many causes. Symptoms include: difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; increased daytime fatigue; irritability; and difficulty concentrating.

Narcolepsy: A neurological disorder involving the central nervous system. Messages regarding when to sleep and when to be awake do not arrive at the right place or time. This results in the person sleeping when they want to be awake or vice versa. Symptoms include: excessive daytime sleepiness with sleep “attacks;” sudden loss of muscle control; vivid hallucinations at the onset of sleep; and feeling paralyzed as one falls asleep.

Night Terrors: Common sleep problem among children between the ages of 2 and 6 years, although they can occur at any age. Usually considered to be normal, they are often scary and distressing to parents. Children who have night terrors are usually described as 'bolting upright' with their eyes wide open, with a look of fear and panic, and will typically be sweating, breathing fast, and have a rapid heart rate. Although it seems like they are awake during a night terror, children will appear confused, will not be consolable and won't recognize you. Typical night terrors last about 5 to 30 minutes.

Nocturnal Movement Disorders: A disorder, Restless Leg Syndrome is an example, which creates difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep. Symptoms include: feelings of restlessness and an urge to move legs; discomfort that is alleviated by movement; discomfort occurring more often in the evening when sitting or lying down; and involuntary leg jerks during sleep.

Parasomnia: A disorder that includes abnormal activity during sleep. These disorders are not usually considered dangerous, but they may be if the activity causes harm to bed partners. Parasomnias include: acting out dreams (REM Behavioral Disorder); sleepwalking; sleep talking; night terrors; and confused arousals.

REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Behavioral Disorder: A sleep disorder that occurs mostly among the elderly, people with Alzheimer’s, and people with Parkinson’s disease. Instead of remaining virtually paralyzed during REM sleep, people with REM Behavioral Disorder lose this paralysis and may act out dreams. REM disorders are also seen in people who take certain medications, such as tricyclic antidepressants, and those who drink alcohol on a regular basis.

Secondary sleep disorders: Sleep disorders related to medical or psychiatric disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder. May be caused by a particular medical condition or as a side effect of certain medications.

Sleep apnea: Characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep and the loss of oxygen. The person struggles for air, causing a brief arousal from sleep, allowing the airway to open slightly and air to rush in, resulting in snoring. The frequent awakening of a person’s brain actually prevents continuous and/or deep sleep. Early recognition and treatment of this syndrome is vital because it may be associated with hypertension, heart attack, and stroke. Very mild cases may be managed by keeping patients off their backs while sleeping, while mild cases often use dental devices to assist the jaw into a desirable position for adequate airflow. The main treatment involves the use of a CPAP machine.
Symptoms include non-refreshing sleep and excessive sleepiness during the day; loud snoring and awakenings with gasping or snorting; bed partners may see the person stop breathing; morning headaches and dry throat; irritability; difficulty concentrating; decreased sexual function; and depression.

Sleepwalking: A behavior disorder that originates during deep sleep and results in walking or performing other complex behaviors while asleep. It is much more common in children than adults and is more likely to occur if a person is sleep deprived. Symptoms of sleepwalking disorder range from simply sitting up in bed and looking around, to walking around the room or house, to leaving the house and even driving long distances. Common triggers for sleepwalking include sleep deprivation, sedative agents (including alcohol), febrile illnesses, and certain medications.

Snoring: Sometimes indicative of sleep apnea, snoring is caused by large amounts of air rushing into and out of the airway. Often, people who snore are unaware of this behavior.

Teeth Grinding or Clenching the Jaw: Often occurs during sleep, teeth grinding is caused not just by stress and anxiety, but also by sleep disorders, an abnormal bite, or teeth that are missing or crooked. Symptoms include a dull headache or a sore jaw. Teeth that are painful or loose may result from severe grinding.