Sleep Disorders: 6 of the Most Common Sleep Problems

Are these sleep problems making you toss and turn?

We have all had a sleepless night from time to time, but a constant lack of sleep is a serious problem. In this video, Dr. Holly Phillips explains the symptoms and causes of insomnia, sleep apnea, bruxism, REM behavior disorder, restless legs syndrome and narcolepsy. Make sure to talk to your doctor if you are exhibiting symptoms of any of these sleep disorders.

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This video features Dr Holly Phillips. Dr. Holly Phillips is a Board Certified General Internist in private practice in New York. She is also Medical contributor for CBS News.

Duration: 2:52. Last Updated On: June 1, 2014, 6:48 p.m.

Reviewed by: Dr. Preeti Parikh, . Review date: Jan. 31, 2011

00:00 [MUSIC]
00:07 Most of us have experienced a sleepless night at some point in our lives.
00:10 But for some people, consistent lack of sleep is a serious problem.
00:15 It might just be because of a stressful time, or
00:18 one of these common sleep disorders.
00:21 Insomnia.
00:22 Signs and symptoms of insomnia may include difficulty falling asleep at night,
00:27 regularly waking up during the night, waking up too early, or
00:31 waking up feeling tired even after a full night's sleep.
00:36 Sleep apnea.
00:38 Apnea means without breath.
00:40 When you have sleep apnea, it means you actually stop breathing during your sleep.
00:44 That lack of breath can last up to ten seconds and lead to serious
00:48 problems including hypertension, heart disease, mood, and even memory disorders.
00:54 Sleep apnea happens when the muscles in the back of the throat aren't able to
00:58 keep the throat open.
00:59 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:02 Bruxism is the medical term for clenching your teeth.
01:06 Come people clench their teeth together during the day without even knowing it,
01:10 usually when they feel anxious or tense.
01:12 But people with bruxism often grind and clench their teeth during sleep, too.
01:16 And that can cause headaches, jaw pain, and earaches.
01:21 REM Behavior Disorder.
01:22 For most people dreams are a purely mental activity that
01:25 occurs when the body's at rest.
01:28 Even during a vivid or action packed dream, their bodies are still.
01:32 But for people who suffer from REM Behavior Disorder or
01:35 RBD, they may actually act out their dreams.
01:38 They move their arms and legs in bed, they talk in their sleep, or
01:41 they can get out of bed altogether.
01:44 That's because people with RBD lack the normal muscle paralysis of REM sleep.
01:50 The disorder usually begins with twitching and talking and jerking during their
01:54 dreaming for years, and then they begin to fully act out their dreams.
01:58 Sometimes the dreams are violent and when acted out can harm the sleeper or his or
02:02 her bed partner.
02:05 Restless Leg Syndrome.
02:07 Restless Leg Syndrome RLS is characterized by
02:10 an uncontrollable urge to move your legs.
02:13 It's a neurological condition that is at it's worse when you're resting.
02:17 Symptoms include burning, creeping, and tugging sensations and
02:21 it can be very painful.
02:23 In most cases, there is no known cause for Restless Leg Syndrome.
02:27 Researchers suspect that the condition may due to an imbalance of
02:30 the brain chemical dopamine.
02:34 Narcolepsy.
02:35 This is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by overwhelming fatigue and
02:39 sudden attacks of sleep.
02:41 Though it's often mistaken for
02:42 depression, seizures, and fainting, narcolepsy is a chronic condition.
02:47 Though there isn't a cure, medication and lifestyle changes can help you cope