Links
to sleep disorder websites plus a short list of books I
found at the local library when learning more about sleep disorders.
[Not for sale - these are listed for your reference purposes only!]
2. Q. What may cause someone to have a sleep disorder?
A. 1.) Insomnia might be caused by a. migraine headache b. stimulants such as caffeine (is or may be present in soda,
chocolate, coffee), tea or nicotine c. alcohol d.depression, stress or anxiety e. behavior patterns - too concerned with falling asleep,
daytime napping, conditioning to remain awake (such as waiting for the
baby to wake and start crying) f. an existing sleep disorder like RLS g. medical conditions such as a specific illness, pain or
discomfort h. exercise close to bedtime i. some medications
Circadian disorders may be caused by a. shift work b. time zone changes
Delayed or advanced sleep phase syndrome causes are unknown
The biological clock seems to be faulty
2.) parasomnias such as sleep walking, bedwetting, night
terrors or nightmares, and tooth grinding may be caused by a. heredity, genetics ( sleep walking often occurs in several
family members) b. stress c. physical illness (such as bladder dysfunction in relation to
bedwetting) d. mental illness (such as obsessional personality disorder or
suppressed, unexpressed anger) e. sugary foods near bedtime (nightmares) f. medications ( nightmares) g. alcohol (tooth grinding) h. uneven dental surfaces (tooth grinding)
Narcolepsy may be caused by a. heredity b. viral infection c. head injury d. a disorder in REM sleep
3.) movement disorders such as restless leg syndrome and
PLMD might be caused by a. heredity b. medications c. pregnancy d. exercise e. medical conditions (anemia, diabetes, renal failure, and
certain neurological disorders) f. stimulants such as caffeine, chocolate or nicotine g. muscle fatigue
My husband has been diagnosed, but the cause of his PLMD is unknown.
4.) sleep apnea is of 2 types - a. obstructive sleep apnea is a condition where the throat
muscles relax during sleep to such an extent that breathing
occasionally stops. Causes include nasal polyps, a deviated septum, an
upper airway abnormality of some other type. b. central sleep apnea is a condition where the muscles
involved in breathing are not properly controlled by the brain.
Upper airway resistance syndrome is a disorder in which airflow is
reduced during sleep.
5.) Snoring may sometimes be caused by the factors listed
for sleep apnea.