What is obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)? Normally when we are asleep, the muscles in our body relax but our airway stays open, allowing us to breathe normally. However, for some people, the airway doesn’t stay open – often because there is pressure from fat around the neck – which stops them breathing (apnoea, pronounced ap-nee-a) […]
Sleep Talking
Sleep talking (somniloquy pronounced som-nil-o-qee) refers to any utterance made during sleep, from one word to entire sentences. It can be brought on by stress or some illness. It occurs in young children primarily, and happens in the early part of the night (the first few hours of sleep). It does not occur as part […]
Restless Leg Syndrome
People with RLS complain of an irresistible urge to move their legs while at rest. A person with RLS will experience a vague, uncomfortable feeling while at rest, only relieved by moving the legs. The symptoms of RLS may be present all day long, making it difficult for an individual to sit motionless. Or they […]
Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) and restless leg syndrome (RLS) are distinct disorders, but often occur simultaneously. Both PLMD and RLS are also called (nocturnal) myoclonus, which describes frequent or involuntary muscle spasms. Periodic limb movement was formally described first in the 1950s, and, by the 1970s, it was listed as a potential cause of […]
Insomnia
WHAT IS INSOMNIA? Insomnia is the perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep because of one or more of the following: difficulty falling asleep waking up frequently during the night with difficulty returning to sleep waking up too early in the morning un-refreshing sleep Insomnia is not defined by the number of hours of […]
Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea is not a single disease entity, but rather includes several disorders in which the common abnormality is an absence of ‘signals’ from the brain, to the respiratory muscles which regulate breathing. In some people, recurrent central sleep apneas during sleep are not associated with any apparent effects or physiologic disturbances. In others, […]