Common sleep disorders and disruptors

A Senate inquiry into sleep health reported 1 in 5 Australians are affected by a major sleep disorder. A sleep disorder is a condition that stops you getting restful sleep. It can cause daytime sleepiness and problems functioning. If a person has a sleep disorder, getting medical help is very important because the disorder can seriously affect their health, and adversely impact the safety of the person or those around them (especially when driving).

Factors disrupting sleep

Several factors can disrupt sleep:

• physical disturbances (e.g. chronic pain, headaches)
• medical issues (e.g. sleep apnoea)
• stress (e.g. job loss, financial worries, death of a loved one)
• psychiatric disorders (e.g. depression, anxiety)
• environmental issues (e.g. noisy environment, too bright, extreme temperatures)
• genetics (e.g. a genetic link to narcolepsy)
• shift work/non-standard work arrangements (e.g. working outside 9 am–5 pm)
• medications (e.g. certain antidepressants, blood pressure medication, cold medicine)
• aging (e.g. about half of all adults over 65 have a sleep disorder, although it is not clear if it is a normal part of aging or a result of medications that older people commonly use).

Treatments for sleep disorders can range from changing position when sleeping, to wearing dental guides, to implementing behaviour therapies, to needing medication. Your GP can give you more information about sleep disorders and how to treat them. 

10 common sleep disorders

1. Insomnia happens when it is hard to get to sleep or stay asleep. Sometimes, it can be caused by illness or stress and goes away when the cause is resolved. Other times, it can be caused by shift work (which disrupts your body’s natural awake–sleep rhythms). But sometimes there is no obvious cause. Adopting good sleep habits can help, but some people need more complex treatments (e.g. therapy or medication). These treatments require expert advice. 

2. Snoring is a common problem, affecting up to 40% of men and 20% of women. Common causes include obesity, alcohol, smoking and allergies. Snoring can disturb the snorer’s sleep and their partner’s sleep. Treatments include mouthguards (that open airways), treatments on the roof of your mouth or throat, treating allergies and unblocking your nose. Sometimes, sleeping on your side can help. 

3. Obstructive sleep apnoea affects the ability to breathe freely while asleep. Most people who have sleep apnoea snore too. Having trouble breathing wakes the person up, even though it may be for a very short time and they do not remember waking. But waking like this over and over disrupts sleep. Treatments can include weight loss, cutting down on alcohol, dental devices and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. 

4. Sleep hypoventilation happens when people do not breathe strongly enough during sleep. It can be caused by severe lung disorders or obesity, and can lead to breathing problems and heart failure. It can be treated by devices that help with breathing while sleeping. 

5. Restless legs syndrome gives people uncomfortable feelings in their legs. It is often worst in the evening and early morning. It disrupts sleep because the only way to stop the feeling is to move. 

6. Bruxism, or grinding teeth during sleep, is quite common. If untreated, it can permanently damage teeth. Sometimes it causes jaw discomfort. Often people are not aware they have it. It can be treated with dental guards to protect teeth. 

7. Narcolepsy is unstable switching between being awake and asleep that cannot be controlled by the individual. It affects about 1 in 2000 people. People with narcolepsy can feel sleepier more often, but they can also have disrupted sleep. They can hallucinate when falling asleep or waking up. Sometimes they cannot move when they wake up (sleep paralysis) (although sleep paralysis can occur by itself). They can also have sudden muscle weakness (cataplexy), often after laughing or feeling a strong emotion. Not everyone with narcolepsy has all these problems. Drug therapies can work very well.

8. Sleep talking, sleep walking and other automatic behaviours occur when people only partially wake up. They are common in children and often go away as they mature. However, some adults are affected. Other complex behaviours can also happen while asleep, such as binge eating and sexual behaviour. These problems can be treated. 

9. Nightmares and night terrors happen when people do not fully wake up. Again, they are more common in children than adults. They can be very disturbing for the person who has them and those around them. They can also make people anxious about going to bed. Poor sleep habits make them worse. They can be treated with counselling and medication. 

10. Rapid eye movement (REM) behaviour disorder happens when muscles are active during REM sleep. Usually, limb muscles are very relaxed during REM sleep. People with REM behaviour disorder act out their dreams, which can involve violent movement and lashing out. They can injure themselves or their partner. It can be treated.