Types of Sleep Disorders

The Sleep Disorders Center at Northwest Texas Healthcare System provides sleep studies to test for a variety of sleep disorders, including:

Insomnia

Insomnia (difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep) may have numerous causes; there is often no one reason for insomnia. It may be caused by psychiatric conditions, medical conditions, unhealthy sleep habits, ingested substances (caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, medications), biological factors or some combination of these. Medications, such as those for colds and allergies, asthma, hypertension, heart disease, thyroid disease or depression are well known for contributing to sleep difficulties.

Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses in the airway as a person sleeps. This causes the person to stop breathing, often hundreds of times each night. Symptoms include loud snoring followed by a sudden silence when breathing stops and gasping and snorting when breathing resumes. Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke, diabetes and more.

Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is characterized by an unpleasant sensation in the legs and the powerful urge to move them. Symptoms primarily occur at night, which can cause restless sleep and excessive tiredness during the day.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is associated with extreme daytime drowsiness, as well as intermittent and involuntary sleep episodes that can occur during any daytime activity. Symptoms may include excessive sleepiness, hallucinations, sleep paralysis and a sudden loss of muscle tone that can cause slurred speech and muscle collapse.

Other Sleep Disorders

Our physicians can also evaluate and treat other disorders.