General Information on Sleep Disorders
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General Information on Sleep Disorders
Everyone, at one time or another, has experienced trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or has been sleepy during the day. People with a sleep disorder experience these and more serious symptoms. Their symptoms may disrupt daytime performance and lead to other medical problems.

Sleep is a necessary process that restores the body and brain from the day's activities. Far from dormant, the sleeping brain is every bit as active as the awake brain. During the process of getting a good night's sleep, the brain transitions through four stages of NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep and a fifth stage of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.

Each night, most normal sleepers pass through three to five complete cycles. NREM sleep comprises about 75 percent of total sleep time. Stage 1 of NREM is the transition period from wakefulness to sleep. Stage 2, the longest in duration, comprises about 50 percent of total sleep time. Stage 3 and 4 are the deepest stages of sleep and REM sleep is the stage during which we dream.

Sleep disorders affect at least one out of four people and many disorders are extremely serious if not treated. For example, obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder that affects over 20 million Americans, can lead to serious cardiovascular and neurological problems. However, when treated, apnea patients reduce the risk of these serious conditions and dramatically improve the quality of their lives.

Over 80 disorders have been identified that disrupt the normal sleep cycle. If you suspect that you or a loved one has a sleep disorder, you should seek the help of a sleep specialist.