A change from the patient's baseline sleeping pattern, in the hours slept and/or an alteration/dysfunction in the stages of sleep.

A disturbance of normal sleep patterns. There are a number of sleep disorders that range from trouble falling asleep, to nightmares, sleepwalking, and sleep apnea (problems with breathing that cause loud snoring). Poor sleep may also be caused by diseases such as heart disease, lung disease, or nerve disorders.

Conditions characterized by disturbances of usual sleep patterns or behaviors. SLEEP WAKE DISORDERS may be divided into three major categories: DYSSOMNIAS (i.e. disorders characterized by insomnia or hypersomnia), PARASOMNIAS (abnormal sleep behaviors), and SLEEP WAKE DISORDERS secondary to medical or psychiatric disorders. (From Thorpy, Sleep Disorders Medicine, 1994, p187)

Sleep is a complex biological process. While you are sleeping, you are unconscious, but your brain and body functions are still active. They are doing a number of important jobs that help you stay healthy and function at your best. So when you don't get enough quality sleep, it does more than just make you feel tired. It can affect your physical and mental health, thinking, and daily functioning. Sleep disorders are conditions that disturb your normal sleep patterns. There are more than 80 different sleep disorders. Some major types include: Insomnia - being unable to fall asleep and stay asleep. This is the most common sleep disorder.; Sleep apnea - a breathing disorder in which you stop breathing for 10 seconds or more during sleep; Restless leg syndrome (RLS) - a tingling or prickly sensation in your legs, along with a powerful urge to move them; Hypersomnia - being unable to stay awake during the day. This includes narcolepsy, which causes extreme daytime sleepiness.; Circadian rhythm disorders - problems with the sleep-wake cycle. They make you unable to sleep and wake at the right times.; Parasomnia - acting in unusual ways while falling asleep, sleeping, or waking from sleep, such as walking, talking, or eating. Some people who feel tired during the day have a true sleep disorder. But for others, the real problem is not allowing enough time for sleep. It's important to get enough sleep every night. The amount of sleep you need depends on several factors, including your age, lifestyle, health, and whether you have been getting enough sleep recently. Most adults need about 7-8 hours each night. There are different causes for different sleep disorders, including: Other conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease, nerve disorders, and pain; Mental illnesses, including depression and anxiety; Medicines; Genetics. Sometimes the cause is unknown. There are also some factors that can contribute to sleep problems, including: Caffeine and alcohol; An irregular schedule, such as working the night shift; Aging. As people age, they often get less sleep or spend less time in the deep, restful stage of sleep. They are also more easily awakened. The symptoms of sleep disorders depend on the specific disorder. Some signs that you may have a sleep disorder include that: You regularly take more than 30 minutes each night to fall asleep; You regularly wake up several times each night and then have trouble falling back to sleep, or you wake up too early in the morning; You often feel sleepy during the day, take frequent naps, or fall asleep at the wrong times during the day; Your bed partner says that when you sleep, you snore loudly, snort, gasp, make choking sounds, or stop breathing for short periods; You have creeping, tingling, or crawling feelings in your legs or arms that are relieved by moving or massaging them, especially in the evening and when trying to fall asleep; Your bed partner notices that your legs or arms jerk often during sleep; You have vivid, dreamlike experiences while falling asleep or dozing; You have episodes of sudden muscle weakness when you are angry or fearful, or when you laugh; You feel as though you cannot move when you first wake up. To make a diagnosis, your health care provider will use your medical history, your sleep history, and a physical exam. You may also have a sleep study (polysomnogram). The most common types of sleep studies monitor and record data about your body during a full night of sleep. The data includes: Brain wave changes; Eye movements; Breathing rate; Blood pressure; Heart rate and electrical activity of the heart and other muscles. Other types of sleep studies may check how quickly you fall asleep during daytime naps or whether you are able to stay awake and alert during the day. What are...

(sleep disturbance) An interruption, departure, or divergence from that which is considered normal in sleep.

Sleep disorders are among the most common clinical problems encountered in medicine and psychiatry. Inadequate or nonrestorative sleep can markedly impair a patient�s quality of life.

Sleep disorders are conditions that result in changes in the way that you sleep.