Disorders of Primary Hypersomnia have usual age of onset from 15-20 years of age, But many times diagnosis is not made till decades later Narcolepsy and Idiopathic Hypersomnia are disorders of sleepiness that are due to brain reasons, that is why they are called “Central Hypersomnias”. Narcolepsy is known as being a disorder of… Read more »
Snoring can cause damage to your arteries. In other sections it was discussed that children can have “benign primary snoring” and that the lymphoid tissue (tonsils and adenoids) may reduce in size as the airway matures, and the snoring may go away. Not so true in adults. Snoring is a vibration of the soft tissues… Read more »
Sleep apnea is associated with heart disease. There are many contributing mechanisms. For one, the increased effort periodically through the night to take breaths from obstruction puts stress on the heart, leading to increased heart rate and blood pressure. Another is just the stress state, the inflammatory state that someone with sleep apnea is in can… Read more »
Sleep walking, sleep talking, and night terrors are common in childhood. They occur in a deep sleep. Different stages of sleep are reviewed in Sleep 101. Natural history of Non-REM Parasomnia (Somambulism, Somniloquy, Night Terror) It is more common in childhood when SWS (Slow-Wave Sleep) is more abundant. Safety/Environmental measures is first line treatment. At… Read more »
Sleepiness and obesity. Daytime Sleepiness is More Common in Obesity Many obese individuals presenting with hypersomnolence will be diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and their sleepiness will improve with effective therapy for sleep apnea. However a significant proportion of patients will continue to have hypersomnolence. Clinical studies demonstrate that obesity without sleep apnea is also… Read more »
