Sleep. You need it.

What is it?

Sleep disorders are conditions that disturb the quality, timing, or duration of sleep, affecting daily functioning and overall health. These disorders can involve difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, or abnormal behaviors during sleep. There are different types, including insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy, and parasomnias.

Prevalence and statistics

• Around 30–40% of adults experience symptoms of insomnia at some point.

• Obstructive sleep apnea affects nearly 1 billion people globally.

• Narcolepsy affects approximately 1 in 2,000 individuals.

• Up to 15% of adults experience chronic sleep difficulties.

• Poor sleep is linked with depression, anxiety, heart disease, obesity, diabetes and early aging.

How to identify?

Emotional signs –

• Irritability, mood swings, or emotional sensitivity

• Anxiety about bedtime or inability to fall asleep

• Feelings of frustration or hopelessness due to poor sleep

Physical signs –

• Daytime fatigue, yawning, or drowsiness

• Snoring or gasping for air during sleep (common in sleep apnea)

• Unusual movements during sleep (e.g., kicking, sleepwalking)

Behavioral signs –

• Trouble waking up in the morning or excessive naps

• Avoidance of social or work activities due to sleepiness

• Using substances like caffeine to be awake or alcohol to manage sleep patterns

Cognitive signs –

• Trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, or slowed thinking

• Racing thoughts when trying to fall asleep (insomnia)

• Hallucinations or dream-like states while awake (narcolepsy)

Common Types of Sleep Disorders:

• Insomnia – Difficulty falling or staying asleep

• Hypersomnia - Excessive sleep

• Sleep starts – sudden jerks when falling asleep

• Jet lag – Disturbance of sleep related to long distance travel. Also common with sea travel.

• Sleep Apnea – Breathing interruptions during sleep

• Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) – Uncontrollable urge to move legs at night

• Narcolepsy – Sudden sleep attacks and excessive daytime sleepiness

• Parasomnias – Unusual behaviors during sleep (e.g., sleepwalking, sleep talking, night terrors, sleep paralysis)

  
  

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