DOnofrio 1

Anna DOnofrio
Mr. Hull
Honors English II

Sleeping Disorders
People spend one-third of their lives, approximately twenty-four years, sleeping, or at
least trying to sleep. All people sleep regardless what their age, even a fetus in the mothers
womb has cycles of sleep (Stewart 17). Sleeping disorders can be caused by anything from
general stress to physiological problems, and can affect the many stages of sleep. The four most
common sleeping disorders that affect people include insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs
syndrome, and sleep terrors. If one who has a sleeping disorder leaves it untreated, it can have
significant negative effects on their overall health. Healthy sleep is critical to every persons
general health, and the disorders associated with sleep need to be identified and treated in order
to maintain a state of well-being.
A cycle of sleep involves two key phases, and disorders can arise due to anxiety, stress, or
problems within the body. The two types of sleep are called non-REM and REM. Non-REM
stands for non-rapid eye movement. This type of sleep allows the body and brain to rest and
refresh themselves (Stewart 27). Non-REM sleep consists of three stages. The first stage, also
known as NREM1, is the stage between being awake and sleeping. Breathing becomes more
regular and heart rate begins to slow. This period of very light sleep usually lasts less than ten
minutes. NREM2 is the second stage of non-REM sleep. During this stage muscle activity
decreases and conscious awareness of the outside world begins to fade completely. Most of our
time sleeping is spent in this stage. The third stage of non-REM sleep is called NREM3, it is also

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known as deep or delta. During this stage the sleeper is completely cut off from the outside
environment and unaware of any sounds. The sleepers brain temperature, breathing rates, heart
rate, and blood pressure are at their lowest levels. Sleep talking and walking are most likely to
occur during this stage. Once the sleeper enters this stage it becomes very difficult to wake up. If
awakened, the sleeper will feel very groggy. After each of the three non-REM stages have
completed, the REM sleep occurs. This type of sleep is known as REM because the eyes move
rapidly beneath the closed eye lids, it is also referred to as active sleep. The majority of ones
dreams occur during REM sleep. The eye movements are believed to be related to the internal
visual images of the dreams. Breathing becomes more rapid and irregular during REM than
during non-REM and the heart rate and blood pressure also increase. REM sleep is the last part
of the sleep cycle (Mastin).
There are many types of sleeping disorders, and therefore the definition is broad. A
sleeping disorder is any recurrent change in a normal sleep pattern. These disorders can be mild
or very serious and potentially fatal (Marcovitz 6). Sleeping disorders are also known as
dyssomnia, which is any medical disorder that negatively affects a persons healthy sleeping
pattern (Mastin). People all over the world struggle with these disorders, in fact an estimated
seventy million Americans have sleeping disorders (Marcovitz 6).
Sleeping disorders can have a variety of different causes. Two major factors that affect
how one sleeps are anxiety and stress. These are the primary reasons for insomnia as well as
other disorders. When one is anxious or under stress the heart will beat faster and the blood
pressure and body temperature will rise, causing adrenaline to kick in and prepare for a stressful
situation. This reaction to stress makes it very hard to fall asleep (Marcovitz 13). In addition to
anxiety and stress, physiological problems also contribute to poor sleep. These problems usually

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are the root of the sleeping disorder called sleep apnea. Obstructions in the human airway that
occur naturally in the throat may affect peoples ability to draw breaths while sleeping
(Marcovitz 37). Also diseases, strokes, and headache syndromes are all associated with sleeping
disorders (Sleep Disorders).
There are four major types of sleeping disorders: insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg
syndrome, and night terrors. Among these, insomnia is the most common sleeping disorder,
affecting about half of the general population (Mastin). Insomnia is the inability to sleep
normally and makes it difficult for one to fall asleep. This specific disorder tends to be very mild
and can last only weeks or it can be more serious and last years. People who suffer from this
disorder usually sleep shorter hours and wake up unusually early. They reported that they had
problems falling asleep and were tired all day. Insomnia is mainly caused by worry or anxiety.
However, drugs like caffeine and other stimulants may interfere with normal sleep patterns
(Rosen 38-39).
The second most common sleeping disorder is sleep apnea. People who have this disorder
have a hard time breathing while sleeping. In fact, the term apnea means without breath in
Greek. Sleep apnea is caused by blocked air passages mostly affecting obese or large men and
women. The blockage in the throat can cause breathing to become shallow or even stop for ten to
twenty seconds. It is not unusual for a person with sleep apnea to wake up and fall asleep
hundreds of times a night, but they are not aware of their breathing. As a result they never fully
enter the stages of deep sleep necessary to be well rested. In 2007 the New Jersey- based Living
Heart Foundation conducted a study that 75% of the retired NFL linemen suffer from sleep
apnea. New York Giants physician Allan Levy said They momentarily wake up, then the cycle
starts over again, and they never get into deep sleep. They develop heart disease and

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hypertension. Sleep apnea is a killer. Even though sleep apnea is common with overweight
adults, it can affect anyone. Even healthy toddlers have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep
apnea. About two percent adult women, four percent adult men, and three percent of children
suffer with symptoms of sleep apnea (Marcovitz 23-24).
The last two main sleeping disorders are restless legs syndrome and sleep terrors.
Restless legs syndrome, also known as RLS, is when a person is unable to control their leg
movements. In the late 1990s doctors were not sure what restless leg syndrome was, their
patients would complain that prickly and uncomfortable twitches in their legs kept them up at
night. However, now doctors have a better understanding and are more willing to make a
diagnosis. It is believed that ten percent of the American population suffer from restless legs
syndrome within that about three percent suffer to the degree of needing treatment. At first,
doctors believed restless legs syndrome was caused by psychological problems and that their
patients anxieties manifested themselves in physical symptoms. Research now has shown that
there is a number of physical causes of RLS, including anemia. Anemia is a health condition in
which people suffer from a deficiency of red blood cells. In addition, nerve damage caused by
diabetes may contribute to this disorder. Also, about a quarter of all pregnant women suffer from
restless legs syndrome because the baby presses against nerves or blood vessels, which restricts
blood flow to the legs. In addition, restless legs syndrome can be hereditary, meaning it runs in
families, and is passed on from generation to generation (Marcovitz 38). Sleep terrors, also
known as night terrors, mostly affect children, but some adults also suffer from the disorder.
People who have this disorder experience the bodys physical reaction to nightmares. They sit up
in bed and start screaming or crying. The sleepers heart rate will go up and start breathing
rapidly. They may look confused, however they are still in a state of sleep so trying to comfort

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them is not effective. The next morning they will not remember anything that happened. There
are about 200,000 children suffer from this disorder each year (Marcovitz 26).
Finally, there are many ways sleeping disorders can negatively affect ones life, however
if they are detected early enough they can be treated. Stress, anger, irritability, and depression are
just a few of the consequences of lack of sleep. Not getting enough sleep at night can affect ones
concentration during the day because they will always feel tired. Also short-term memories may
be impaired which can affect peoples work or school. People who suffer from insomnia think
they are always hungry, which can lead to obesity. Lawrence Epstein, the medical director of The
Sleep Health Centers in Boston said Chronic sleep deprivation causes changes in the
metabolism that produce a state that stimulates hunger. Another consequence of lack of sleep is
depression. Recent studies show that people who do not sleep well at night produce high levels
of cortisol, a hormone released during times of stress. This increases the chance of one becoming
depressed (Marcovitz 16).
Different types of sleeping disorders affect people in many ways. For example people
who suffer with insomnia are more susceptible to psychiatric problems because they experience
uncontrollable thoughts while trying to fall asleep. Also, people who suffer from restless legs
syndrome have difficulties with relationships because they are not only keeping themselves up at
night, but also their partner who is trying to sleep (Marcovitz 38). These are just a few of the
examples of how lack of sleep can affect our daily lives.
Sleeping disorders can be treated and prevented by improving sleep hygiene. There are
no miracle cures for sleeping disorders, however developing a regular sleeping schedule can
really help improve them. Also, avoiding caffeine, heavy meals, and vigorous exercise before
bed can also improve sleeping problems. Relaxation techniques before bed such as taking a

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lukewarm bath, meditation, and reading can relax ones muscles and get them ready for bed. As
mentioned before sleeping disorders do not usually just go away but if one works to maintain a
consistent sleep routine, positive changes can be made (Mastin).
In conclusion, sleep disorders can affect people in various ways, but with the right help
they can be treated. The problems with sleep can arise during any part of the sleeping cycle, and
it is important to determine the cause to be able to provide good treatment. The four most
common sleep disorders include insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and sleep terrors,
and each of them will require a unique form of treatment. Without proper treatment, sleeping
disorders can lead directly to negative health consequences. Sleeping disorders could affect any
person in the world at any point in their life; therefore, it is important to educate the public on the
topic of sleep disorders and continue to research and improve types of treatment.

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Works Cited
Marcovitz, Hal. Sleep Disorders. San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, Inc, 2010. Print.
Mastin, Luke. "Types and Stages of Sleep." Sleep. 2013. Web. 21 Feb. 2016.
<http://howsleepworks.com/types.html>.
Rosen, Marvin. Sleep Disorders. San Diego: Lucent Books, 2003. Print.
"Sleep Disorders." PDR Health. PDR Network, LLC, 2016. Web. 21 Feb. 2016.
<http://www.pdrhealth.com/diseases/sleep-disorders>.
Stewart, Gail. Sleep Disorders. Sand Diego: Lucent Books, 2003. Print.