Sleep disorders are not considered a serious illness; however, they should be treated because they have consequences that disrupt the daily life of the person who suffers from them, causing exhaustion, poor performance, lack of energy, or daytime sleepiness. We share important information about the most common disorders.

Its origin is neurological, and it is a chronic disorder in which the person experiences discomfort in their legs while at rest, whether lying down or sitting. The discomfort is so intense that they feel the need to move, walk, or get up because movement reduces the discomfort.

It can affect men or women and people of any age, and there is also a familial predisposition.

It is characterized by:

• An excessive urge to move the legs or arms.
• Discomfort in the limbs (or a tingling sensation) that is relieved or seems to lessen only with movement.
• In the late afternoon or evening, the discomfort worsens to the point of interfering with sleep.
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Symptoms may appear only a few days a week or may even disappear, but they worsen over time.

The cause may be related to the malfunction of dopamine, which is responsible for regulating movement.

It is important to treat this condition because it affects the quality of sleep, which can lead to poor performance in daily activities due to drowsiness. Anxiety may also occur.

Sleepwalking

This disorder occurs while the person is asleep, as they walk or perform other activities even while asleep. In most cases, it is hereditary and more common in children than in adults.

Possible causes of sleepwalking include lack of sleep, anxiety, or fatigue. In adults, it can also be caused by alcohol, certain medications, or mental health disorders.

It is characterized by:

• The person is disoriented upon waking.
• They are aggressive if someone wakes them.
• They perform an activity or walk while asleep.
• They talk in their sleep.
• They have a blank expression.
• They open their eyes while asleep.
• They do not remember doing anything while asleep.
• It may be accompanied by night terrors.
• It is difficult to wake the person from an episode of sleepwalking.

It is important to treat it because it can lead to extreme behaviors that can harm the well-being of the person experiencing sleepwalking.

Night Terrors

A night terror is an episode accompanied by fear, agitation, or screaming while the person is still asleep. It typically occurs 2-3 hours after falling asleep, causing the person, or commonly children, to become agitated and frightened during this deepest stage of sleep.

It can last from a few seconds to several minutes. It can also occur alongside sleepwalking.

It's important to distinguish between a nightmare and a night terror. In nightmares, upon waking, people may remember some details of the dream, while in night terrors, the fear or screaming occurs while still asleep, and upon waking, the person generally remembers nothing.

It is characterized by:

• Screaming or startling
• Sweating, rapid breathing, or an accelerated pulse
• Kicking
• Sometimes sitting up in bed
• Difficulty waking the person up

Insomnia

Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders. It is characterized by difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, so people who suffer from it often sleep for short periods and experience poor sleep quality.

Some symptoms include:

• Waking up for a long time before falling asleep
• Waking up early
• Waking up during the night
• Feeling tired and sleepy in the afternoonSleeping poorly and feeling tired upon waking
• Being awake for much of the night

It is important to treat insomnia because poor sleep quality can affect daily activities due to lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, and a feeling of fatigue throughout the day.