Condition Lookup
Category:
Sleep Disorders
Number of Conditions: 4
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Specialty: Neurology
Category: Sleep Disorders
Symptoms:
loud snoring; pauses in breathing during sleep; gasping or choking during sleep; daytime sleepiness; morning headaches; irritability
Root Cause:
Repeated collapse of the upper airway during sleep, leading to disrupted airflow and intermittent hypoxia.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Polysomnography (gold standard) or home sleep apnea testing (HSAT).
Treatment:
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, lifestyle modifications, oral appliances, or surgery in severe cases.
Medications:
No specific medications for OSA; CPAP is the primary treatment. Adjunctive treatments like modafinil may be prescribed for residual daytime sleepiness.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 10-30% of adults globally, with higher prevalence in males and individuals with obesity.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Obesity, male gender, older age, smoking, alcohol use, and anatomical abnormalities (e.g., enlarged tonsils).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with treatment; untreated, it increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and diabetes.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hypertension, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, stroke, and metabolic disorders.
Narcolepsy
Specialty: Mental Health and Psychology
Category: Sleep Disorders
Symptoms:
excessive daytime sleepiness; sudden muscle weakness (cataplexy); sleep paralysis; hallucinations during sleep onset or upon waking; disrupted nighttime sleep
Root Cause:
Dysfunction in the brain's regulation of the sleep-wake cycle, often due to hypocretin deficiency in narcolepsy type 1.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Polysomnography followed by a Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) and cerebrospinal fluid hypocretin levels if needed.
Treatment:
Behavioral modifications like scheduled naps, stimulant medications, and antidepressants for cataplexy.
Medications:
Modafinil or armodafinil (wakefulness-promoting agents), sodium oxybate (improves nighttime sleep and reduces cataplexy), and antidepressants like venlafaxine or fluoxetine for cataplexy.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects about 0.02–0.05% of the population worldwide.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Genetic predisposition, autoimmune triggers, and sometimes preceding infections or head trauma.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Manageable with treatment but lifelong; symptoms often persist and require ongoing care.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Impaired social and occupational functioning, increased risk of accidents, and potential for depression or anxiety.
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD)
Specialty: Neurology
Category: Sleep Disorders
Symptoms:
acting out dreams during rem sleep; violent or aggressive movements; vocalizations such as shouting or screaming; frequent awakenings due to self-injury or injury to bed partner
Root Cause:
Loss of normal muscle atonia during REM sleep, often associated with neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, polysomnography to confirm lack of muscle atonia during REM sleep.
Treatment:
Lifestyle modifications (safety measures to prevent injury) and medications.
Medications:
Clonazepam (a benzodiazepine) is the most common treatment; melatonin is also used for mild cases.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Estimated to affect 0.5-1% of the general population, with higher prevalence in older adults.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Male gender, age over 50, neurodegenerative disorders, and use of certain antidepressants.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Symptoms can be managed effectively with treatment; often a precursor to neurodegenerative conditions.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Injury to self or bed partner, association with Parkinson’s disease, dementia, or multiple system atrophy.
Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders
Specialty: Neurology
Category: Sleep Disorders
Symptoms:
difficulty falling asleep at conventional times; daytime sleepiness; irregular sleep patterns; difficulty waking up at desired times; reduced daytime performance
Root Cause:
Misalignment between an individual's internal circadian rhythm and the external environment.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, sleep logs, actigraphy, and in some cases, melatonin profile testing.
Treatment:
Chronotherapy (gradual adjustment of sleep-wake schedule), light therapy, and medications.
Medications:
Melatonin supplements for phase adjustment, and wake-promoting agents (e.g., modafinil ) in extreme cases.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Prevalence varies by subtype (e.g., delayed sleep-wake phase disorder affects 0.1-16% of the population).
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Shift work, jet lag, irregular sleep schedules, and genetic predisposition.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally good with treatment and adherence to strategies; untreated, it can lead to chronic sleep deprivation.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Mood disorders, cognitive impairment, metabolic issues, and reduced quality of life.