• difficulty falling asleep
• awaking frequently with difficulty returning to sleep
• snoring loudly
• awaking to find yourself gasping for breath
• excessive sleepiness during the day
• twitching legs at night interfering with sleep
• walking or talking in your sleep
• being frequently awakened by nightmares Types of sleep disorders

There are nearly 85 known sleep disorders. Below, you will find a brief description of several common sleep disorders. Keep in mind this is a partial list. If you experience any of the symptoms outlined above, contact your physician or the Scottsdale Sleep Center for a professional evaluation.

Insomnia
One in three American adults have trouble falling or staying asleep at night, or wakes up too early in the morning. This condition, known as insomnia, affects people of all ages, has many causes, and may lead to irritability, drowsiness or depression.

Sleep Apnea
While many adults snore at least occasionally, extremely loud, habitual snoring can be a symptom of a serious sleep disorder known as sleep apnea. This condition is caused when air cannot get to the lungs intermittently during the night. People with this potentially life-threatening condition, actually stop breathing numerous times throughout the night. They also feel very sleepy during the day.

Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is one of the less common sleep disorders, yet one of the more life-disrupting ones. People with narcolepsy have difficulty staying awake during the day and tend to fall asleep without warning. Strong emotional experiences, such as anger or surprise, may be accompanied by muscle weakness. Other possible symptoms may include a sense of paralysis or hallucinations when falling asleep or awakening.

Restless Legs Syndrome
People with this syndrome experience restlessness in their legs or arms, particularly in the evening or when resting. In addition, they may experience an uncomfortable "crawling" sensation in their legs, or less commonly in their arms, which often causes them to have difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Other sleep disorders include: sleepwalking, night terrors, teeth grinding, bed-wetting, and others.

Causes of sleep disorders
The causes of sleep disorders are numerous, and range from environmental factors such as stress, noise, light, or an irregular sleep schedule, to medical factors such as anxiety, depression, menopause, excessive weight, age, pregnancy, central nervous system malfunction, or genetics. In some cases, alcohol, caffeine and other drugs can cause or contribute to a sleep disorder.