Sleep disorders

By Dr. Stefano Casali

Index Section

Sleep and its disordersInsomniasIpersonnie

Transient sleep-wake disorders

Persistent sleep-wake disorders

The parasites

Sleep and road safety

Sleep Obstructive Apnea Syndrome (OSAS)

Sleep apnea: also a safe driving problem

Sleep Obstructive Apnea Syndrome: cardiovascular implications

Restless legs syndrome

Supplements for sleeping

Theanine

Hypnotic-sedative drugs

Herbal tea against insomnia - Medicinal herbs useful for insomnia

Sleep and its disorders

When talking about sleep disorders, most of the time the listener immediately thinks of insomnia. We all believe it happened to spend, at least occasionally, a few nights without being able to sleep. And on the basis of this personal experience we often tend to make Sleep disorders coincide with insomnia . This does not correspond at all to the clinical reality. In fact, although epidemiological studies in recent years have clearly indicated that insomnia is the most frequent disorder, they have also shown that hypersomnia, that is the disorder opposite insomnia, is present more frequently than could have been imagined. Studies conducted in sleep laboratories have also shown that, behind sometimes apparently trivial sleep disorders, there are important modifications of fundamental biological functions (Lungaresi E., 2005; G. Coccagna., 2000).

Thus, for example, the syndrome of morphine apneas (OSAS) can determine an important hypersomnia, but can also be associated only with a sleep disorder, very frequent and notably annoying for those who are close, but generally considered clinically not relevant, which is snoring . However, the morphine apnea syndrome (OSAS) should not be underestimated as it represents a significant health hazard due to changes in the respiratory and cardiocirculatory function it involves (Aiolfi M. et Al., 2001). So there are those who sleep little and badly, and those who sleep too much, but there are also those who sleep when they should stay awake and are inevitably awake when they should sleep. Moreover, the mechanisms that control sleep can be partially unregulated with the consequent appearance of anomalous phenomena, among which sleepwalking appears to be the most suggestive, or can negatively influence other functions of the nervous system or other apparatuses with consequent appearance, for example, of a epileptic seizure or an asthmatic crisis in people who already suffer from epilepsy or asthma (Sudhansu Chokroverty., 2000; G. Coccagna., 2000). We have thus outlined the four categories of Sleep disorders that are taken into consideration by the classification proposed by the American Association of Sleep Disorders Centers (ASDC) (Classification Committee., 1979):

A. disturbances of the beginning and maintenance of sleep or insomnia;

B. disorders of excessive sleepiness or hypersomnia;

C sleep-wake rhythm disturbances;

D Sleep-related disorders, at sleep stages or partial awakenings, collectively called parasomnias.

The classification of the ASDC is the one commonly used by those dealing with sleep disorders (Coccagna G., Smirne S., 1993). Although it may be criticized in some respects and has therefore caused quite a few discussions about the advisability of reviewing certain points, as indeed happens with almost all classifications, it presents a general clarity and simplicity of subdivision of the disturbances. It therefore seems particularly useful for non-experts, while continuing to be an indispensable reference point also for those who actively deal with these pathologies.

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