Circadian Rhythm Disorders-conditions where your internal body clock is out of phase with the time of day. Jet lag is probably the most commonly experienced example from this category. Sleep disorders are common. A number of surveys have demonstrated that, to a varying extent, insomnia affects 30 percent of the adult American population with increasing rates in the elderly. In comparison, asthma, a common lung problem, occurs in 6 percent of Americans.
Sleep disorders have the potential to affect everyone without regard to age, gender or ethnicity.
For example, most people have experienced transient or short-term insomnia at some point during their lives. Fortunately, chronic sleep disturbances are less common. It is beyond the scope of this brief description of sleep disorders to outline the risk factors for the entire spectrum of sleep disorders. Obesity is the greatest risk factor, but a short lower jaw and other contours of the facial bones, and heredity also may be determinants. OSA occurs more commonly in men and usually is not apparent until middle age.