Sleep disorder is a medical condition that adversely affects your regular sleeping pattern. It has a direct impact on your health and the quality of sleep. This, in turn, paves the way for several other health problems and makes it difficult for you to go about your day-to-day activities.

Types of sleep disorders

• Insomnia
  This is a condition in which a person finds it difficult to fall asleep at night or during other hours.
• Sleep apnea
  It is a condition in which a person suffers from irregular breathing patterns when they are sleeping. There are different types of sleep apnea.
• Restless legs syndrome
  It is a form of sleep disorder that is also referred to as Willis-Ekbom disease. It causes an unnatural and discomforting sensation in the legs. You also feel an uncontrollable urge to move your legs when you are trying to sleep.
• Narcolepsy
  This is a condition in which a person feels tired and sleepy throughout the day.

Symptoms of sleep disorder

• Finding it difficult to sleep
• A sense of fatigue during the day
• Feeling a strong urge to sleep during the day even after sleeping for a good number of hours in the night
• Feeling irritated
• Suffering from anxiety
• Not being able to concentrate
• Suffering from depression

Causes of sleep disorder

• Allergies
  Different kinds of allergic reactions, like cold and sneezing, make a person uncomfortable while sleeping. If you are suffering from any allergy, it is important that you seek treatment for it.
• Respiratory problems
  When a person is suffering from respiratory problems, they may find it difficult to breathe. It would be impossible to catch up on some sleep when you are gasping for breath.
• Nocturia
  Nocturia is a condition in which you feel the need to urinate frequently. This could be a result of hormonal imbalance or some urinary tract-related diseases. When you suffer from nocturia, it will, invariably, cause a sleep disorder and make you feel drowsy in the morning.
• Chronic pain
  If you are feeling a sharp pain in any of your body parts, you will find it difficult to sleep peacefully. Some of the most commonly observed causes of chronic pain are arthritis, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, and persistent pain in the lower back.
• Stress
  Stress is one of the most common causes of sleep disorder. If you are suffering from high-level stress or anxiety, you must consult a therapist and engage in relaxation techniques like meditation to seek relief from it.

Risk factors

• Heart disease
  Sleeping for much longer than necessary regularly can put a person at a high risk of suffering from different kinds of heart diseases. Women are found to be at a higher risk.
• Obesity
  Being overweight or suffering from obesity is one of the direct effects of sleeping excessively. People who sleep a lot tend to do less physical work, which makes them gain weight.
• Diabetes
  Sleep disorders may result in an increase in the blood sugar level and increase the chances of a person suffering from type-2 diabetes.