Those with sleep apnea may have weakened muscles or obstructive tissue in their upper respiratory system that can cause breathing to be difficult and noisy. During sleep, brief interruptions in breathing cause small awakenings, sometimes hundreds of times during the night. The breathing interruptions not only cause restless sleep, but also can be life threatening if untreated. Other types of sleep disorders are non-respiratory and include excessive daytime sleepiness, or narcolepsy. Those with narcolepsy commonly feel sleepy all the time and have the tendency to fall asleep often and at inappropriate times.
Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep.
Many experience insomnia in conjunction with other medical or psychological problems. Restless leg syndrome, a tendency to have spontaneous leg muscle movements during the night can cause periodic wakefulness and interruptions in sleep. The Sleep Center Those with sleeping problems are often referred to a sleep specialist by their primary care physician. Sleep specialists, like Dr. Potolicchio, interview patients, evaluate elaborate sleeping questionnaires and prescribe sleep tests to determine if there may be a sleep disorder. Patients with suspected sleep apnea under go a polysomnogram sleep study at the GW Sleep Center.