Curlie

Sleep Disorders

Sleep research and sleep medicine have grown rapidly over the last thirty years, partly as a result of the discovery that REM (rapid eye movement) sleep coincided with dreaming and partly because of the discovery of sleep apnea (breathing stopping during sleep). Countries vary in how they deal with sleep disorders; in the U.S. sleep medicine is recognised as a field and it is looked after by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; other medical specialities e.g. neurology, pulmonology, psychiatry, may be influential in other countries. The sleep disorders category is broadly divided into sub-categories that deal with the specific sleep disorders as well as the institutions that regulate, diagnose and treat these disorders. Sleep is affected by the brain's biological clock and so is included in this category. Shift-work sleep disorder and jet-lag are well-known problems that reflect the activity of the biological clock. This category consists of some of the major 'omnibus' sites (SleepNet, Brain Information Service, Sleep Medicine and the SleepWell) that can contain just about everything (information, chats, consultations, portals, etc). It also lists smaller, general information sites as well as sites that provide short and concise general sleep disorders information. The Organisations sub-category is packed with information that is more specific to particular sleep disorders. Apart from listing the various centers, the Sleep Centers sub-category is worth visiting as many of these sites provide useful information on sleep disorders. Anyone with health concerns is reminded that it is advisable to discuss their problems with a licensed medical professional.

Please check to see if the site is better suited to one of the sub-categories before submitting.

This category contains informational sites about various health conditions.

Sites selling products to the consumer should instead be submitted to Shopping/Health/Conditions_and_Diseases/Sleep_Disorders.

Businesses selling products or services to the professional healthcare service should be submitted to Business/Healthcare/Products_and_Services/Sleep_Disorders.

Centers

Facility for diagnosing and treating sleep-related disorders.

Please submit sleep center websites to this area. Be sure to list the town and state in your description where you are located or the area in which you service.

Sites should be in English. If they are not, please look for a proper World category instead.

Circadian

Sites listed here will offer non-commercial information on biological rhythms.

NB Sites selling products belong in the appropriate subcategory of Shopping/Health.

Insomnia

Insomnia is the chronic inability to sleep when desired. It can be caused by many situations, conditions and health disorders as well as being a sleep disorder in its own right. Related categories are listed.

Kleine-Levin Syndrome

The field of sleep disorders embraces disturbed sleep - sleep that is disturbed by medical disorders. Experts in these medical disorders, e.g. epilepsy, Parkinson's, oncology, etc may not be aware of developments in sleep research and sleep medicine, and patients may feel that their sleep problem is not being adequately addressed by those experts. This category provides additional information for those experts and patients.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a low prevalence disorder characterised by uncontrollable daytime sleepiness (sometimes accompanied by night-time insomnia). In addition, sufferers may experience extreme muscle weakness particularly when excited by something and may also experience hallucinations. In severe cases this disorder is as disabling as quadraplegia.

Night Terrors

Nightmares usually occur in REM (rapid eye movement) or dreaming sleep. The sufferer is usually aware very quickly that they have experienced a bad dream. In contrast, night terrors emerge out of deep sleep (slow wave sleep). The sufferer displays and may experience extreme fright. As they have awoken out of deep sleep, it may be very difficult to console them. The carer should not be perturbed as the condition is usually self-limiting and benign.

Organizations

This category covers the non-profit organisations, patient-supported groups and Government institutions who contribute to sleep research and medicine. Many provide excellent information.

Research

Research into sleep disorders.

This area is for sites dealing with research and studies in regards to sleep disorders on a global scale.

Restless Legs Syndrome

This disorder prevents sleeping well at night, due to incontrollable movements of the legs. Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) also known as Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep (PLMS) which involves short intermittent limb jerks during sleep, is included in this category at this time.

Please submit only sites that are about restless leg syndrome to this area.

Sites submitted to this subcategory must be in English. Sites in another language should be submitted to a proper World category instead.

Sites selling products will not be listed here.

Sexsomnia

Sexsomnia is a type of parasomnia, where the brain is caught in transition between sleeping and waking states. Other parasomnias include sleepwalking, sleep talking, and sleep driving.

Sleepwalking

Sleepwalking often occurs in childhood but may continue into adult life. Like night terrors it occurs in a deep sleep stage, so it may be very difficult to awaken someone from this state. It is not regarded as serious, although precautions should be taken to prevent the sufferer from endangering themselves or others.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is characterized by the absence of breathing for short periods during sleep. There are several types but the most common is due to upper airway obstruction, resulting in frequent waking and daytime tiredness. Snoring often accompanies this disorder. Daytime sleepiness is often the only symptom since many patients don't realize they are waking at night. Diagnosis is usually made at a sleep disorders clinic. A device to assist with breathing during the night will often alleviate the symptoms. This disorder can often occur in older, adult males and may be associated with overweight.

Please submit only sites that are about sleep apnea. Sites must be in English. Non-English sites need to be submitted to a World category instead.

Sites selling products will not be listed here and should be submitted to a Shopping category instead.

Medical doctor websites offering services to a local area should submit to a Regional Health category.

Sleep Enuresis

Information about this disorder also known as bed wetting.

Please submit only sites about sleep enuresis to this area.

Sites must be in English. Non-English sites should be submitted to a World category instead.

Sites selling products will not be listed here and should be submitted to https://curlie.org/Shopping/Health/Conditions_and_Diseases/Sleep_Disorders/Sleep_Enuresis/

Sleep Paralysis

Sleep problems are so common that it might be said that they are part of the normal human condition. Most people will experience sleep paralysis - waking up and finding that they are paralysed and unable to move - sometime in their lives. These experiences can be associated with other fascinating or frightening sensations and may be the basis of some folklore stories. This category deals with this phenomenon but also notes that sometimes sleep paralysis may reflect a daytime disorder as well.