The International Classification of Sleep Disorders lists over 80 sleep disorders of sleep and wakefulness that serve as a guide for diagnosis.  If you are looking for a brief description of the most common sleep disorders, see our list below.  For a detailed listing of the primary and secondary sleep disorders, go to the AASM's Sleep Education website at www.sleepeducation.com/Disorders.aspx. 

The most common sleep disorders and their short descriptions are:

Insomnia - difficulty falling asleep, waking and inability to return to sleep, waking too early or un-refreshing sleep

Obstructive Sleep Apnea - brief cessations in breathing during sleep, caused by a physical obstruction, with loud snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches

Central Sleep Apnea - brief cessations in breathing during sleep, caused by a central nervous system or cardiac dysfunction, with excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring, awakening with shortness of breath

Narcolepsy - excessive sleepiness with uncontrollable urge to fall asleep, sudden muscle loss, sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations

Restless Legs Syndrome - creeping, crawling, tingling or aching sensation in the leg(s) that occur just before falling asleep that create an irresistible urge to move leg(s)

Some of the remaining more common sleep disorders are:

Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome - sleeps and wakes too early; usually in aging adults

Bruxism - teeth grinding that disrupts sleep

Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome - sleeps and wakes too late, usually in teens

Fibromyalgia - muscular pain affecting sleep, usually in women

Gastroesophageal Reflux - heartburn and regurgitation of stomach contents during sleep

Hypersomnia - extreme daytime sleepiness

Idiopathic Hypersomnia - extreme daytime sleepiness and extreme difficulty awakening from sleep and post-awakening confusion

Inadequate Sleep Hygiene - bad sleep habits that keep your sleep from being refreshing; see Sleep Hygiene

Jet Lag - disturbed sleep, decreased alertness and impaired daytime function due to time zone travel

Nightmares - frightening dreams that can be recalled

Nocturnal Enuresis - chronic bedwetting

Nocturnal Hyperphagia - eating while asleep

Panic Disorder - awakening with chest pain that brings on panic attacks

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder - limb movements while sleeping that disrupt sleep patterns

REM Behavior Disorder - acting out dreams with limb movements while asleep

Rhythmic Movement Disorder - repetitive, and sometime harmful, movements during sleep (headbanging, bodyrocking, headrolling, etc.)

Shiftwork Sleep Disorder - sleep problems occurring from change of sleep cycle

Sleep Hyperhidrosis - extreme sweating while asleep

Sleep Paralysis - inability to move upon awakening

Sleep Terrors - frightening dreams that can't be remembered

Somnambulism - walking/performing activities while asleep

Somniloquy - talking during sleep

. . . plus over 50 others