Some sleep-related disorders are hereditary but many have unknown causes and a few have no cure.
Here are four of some of the most common but also strangest sleep-related disorders.
Kleine Levin Syndrome (KLS) also known as Sleeping Beauty Disorder is characterised by bouts or 'episodes' of prolonged periods of sleep, often around 20 hours, after which sufferers wake and can experience irritability, excessive eating, hallucinations and disorientation.
This disorder is most common in adolescent males but can occur in anyone without warning.
Currently there's no cure and despite research, the best hope is that symptoms of the condition tend to reduce over a few years.
Sleep apnoea is where the sufferer stops breathing for a period of time whilst asleep and this is caused by a relaxation of a muscle which causes the collapse of the airway, stopping air being able to enter the lungs.
This only becomes a serious concern if the periods last for more than ten seconds or if they happen more than ten times in an hour, in which instance medical help should be sought.
The symptoms of sleep apnoea (loud snoring, irritability, morning headaches and excessive daytime lethargy) are often noticed by partners of those suffering rather than sufferers themselves and it is they who should encourage a precautionary trip to the GP.
Those with narcolepsy can experience excessive daytime tiredness caused by interrupted night time sleeping and periods of falling asleep during the day, uncontrollably.
This disorder can be embarrassing and make school or work life difficult as sufferers are often not in control of when and where they fall asleep.
It can be extremely detrimental to mental health with the interrupted and disturbed sleeping patterns making it difficult to settle into any routine but there is no evidence to suggest that there is any long term damage to physical health.
Stimulants can be used to treat the excessive daytime tiredness and therapy and lifestyle changes to treat the disorder but symptoms are rarely completely controlled.
Restless legs syndrome, also known as Wittmaack-Ekbom's syndrome causes irritating or painful sensations in the legs which are only relieved when the legs are moved around and even then, only temporarily.
Symptoms are brought on when the body is completely relaxed, hence why this is classified as a sleeping disorder and as with the others, there is no cure.
Lifestyle changes such as decrease in caffeine and nicotine and increase in iron help some patients but most are treated for the symptoms or for underlying health problems that may be causing it.
It is important to create a relaxing environment and invest in decent beds and mattresses to give yourself the best chance of getting a good quality of sleep each night and while these disorders don't have complete cures, the sleep you can get should be deep and good quality in order to make it as worthwhile as possible.
Here are four of some of the most common but also strangest sleep-related disorders.
Kleine Levin Syndrome (KLS) also known as Sleeping Beauty Disorder is characterised by bouts or 'episodes' of prolonged periods of sleep, often around 20 hours, after which sufferers wake and can experience irritability, excessive eating, hallucinations and disorientation.
This disorder is most common in adolescent males but can occur in anyone without warning.
Currently there's no cure and despite research, the best hope is that symptoms of the condition tend to reduce over a few years.
Sleep apnoea is where the sufferer stops breathing for a period of time whilst asleep and this is caused by a relaxation of a muscle which causes the collapse of the airway, stopping air being able to enter the lungs.
This only becomes a serious concern if the periods last for more than ten seconds or if they happen more than ten times in an hour, in which instance medical help should be sought.
The symptoms of sleep apnoea (loud snoring, irritability, morning headaches and excessive daytime lethargy) are often noticed by partners of those suffering rather than sufferers themselves and it is they who should encourage a precautionary trip to the GP.
Those with narcolepsy can experience excessive daytime tiredness caused by interrupted night time sleeping and periods of falling asleep during the day, uncontrollably.
This disorder can be embarrassing and make school or work life difficult as sufferers are often not in control of when and where they fall asleep.
It can be extremely detrimental to mental health with the interrupted and disturbed sleeping patterns making it difficult to settle into any routine but there is no evidence to suggest that there is any long term damage to physical health.
Stimulants can be used to treat the excessive daytime tiredness and therapy and lifestyle changes to treat the disorder but symptoms are rarely completely controlled.
Restless legs syndrome, also known as Wittmaack-Ekbom's syndrome causes irritating or painful sensations in the legs which are only relieved when the legs are moved around and even then, only temporarily.
Symptoms are brought on when the body is completely relaxed, hence why this is classified as a sleeping disorder and as with the others, there is no cure.
Lifestyle changes such as decrease in caffeine and nicotine and increase in iron help some patients but most are treated for the symptoms or for underlying health problems that may be causing it.
It is important to create a relaxing environment and invest in decent beds and mattresses to give yourself the best chance of getting a good quality of sleep each night and while these disorders don't have complete cures, the sleep you can get should be deep and good quality in order to make it as worthwhile as possible.