A Sleep Disorder is any disruption in the normal sleep pattern. According to the National Sleep Foundation, more than 50 million Americans suffer from a sleep disorder at some time in their lives. These disorders have a significant impact on the daytime functioning, quality of life, and health of the sufferer. For example, research data have shown that people with insomnia report more problems with attention, concentration, and memory than healthy individuals; and they are more likely to suffer from psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety. Those who suffer from sleep apnea, a sleep-related breathing disorder, are at greater risk for high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), stroke, and death.
The significant health consequences of sleep disorders have led experts to agree that these problems warrant medical attention. As of today, there are more than 80 different sleep disorders identified in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders.
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