INSOMNIA If you have difficulty getting off to sleep or staying asleep you have insomnia. This may only be mild and not need any particular assessment or treatment but help is available if you need it.

NARCOLEPSY If you are sleepy but don't snore you may have narcolepsy. It is much less commonly seen than sleep apnea. Accompanying symptoms may include going weak in the muscles or collapsing if you laugh or getting a fright or being unable to move just as you have fallen asleep or woken up.

RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME Patients with restless legs syndrome have an uncomfortable sensation in the legs and/or an irresistible urge to move the legs. This usually happens when the sufferer is trying to go to sleep but may happen any time at rest, for instance when sitting watching TV.

SLEEP WALKING AND OTHER "FUNNY THINGS" AT NIGHT Occasionally people talk, shout, sit up in bed, get out of bed suddenly, walk or do other unusual things in their sleep. They usually have no or only some recollection of what they did when they wake in the morning. These conditions are known as parasomnias.

SNORING AND SLEEP APNEA Snoring is partial obstruction to the upper airway and apnea is the term used to describe complete obstruction. Typically apnea occurs intermittently during sleep every 30 seconds or so and is often noticed by the bed partner. If sleep is interrupted sufficiently by this, the patient may notice they are very sleepy during the day and they may fall asleep in situations where they should not. There are many other symptoms such as impaired memory and concentration and morning headache. Sleep apnea is a risk factor for heart attack and stroke.

To find out more about the above conditions we recommend you visit www.sleepaus.on.net and follow the links.

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