Medical sleeping disorders

Another major classification of sleeping disorders is those caused by medical or neurological problems. Some sicknesses display characteristics of excessive sleepiness, or inability to sleep. Neurological sleeping disorders can be the result of degenerative diseases such as Huntington's chorea, Parkinson's disease and others. In addition, there are sleeping disorders related to psychiatric problems. Medical and neurological related sleeping disorders are the most likely to be treated by medications or drug regimens.

Sub-Types

Common medical sleeping disorders include

Alcoholism - Both alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence create symptoms of sleeping disorders. After the consumption of alcohol excessive sleepiness may ensue followed by periods of interrupted sleep.

Sleeping sickness - a protozoan brain infection

Nocturnal cardiac ischemia - nighttime chest pains

Chronic pulmonary disease - lung or bronchial obstructions such as emphysema can cause insomnia

Asthma

Heartburn

Peptic Ulcer

Fibromalgia or fibrositis syndrome

Neurological disruptions of sleeping patterns are also associated with several relative common diseases. These are all degenerative brain disorders

Parkinson's Disease

Huntington's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease

Pick's Disease

ALS

Sleep related headaches and sleep related epilepsy are other common neurological disorders that affect sleep quality.

Causes

The causes of these medical and neurological diseases vary according to the type of disorder. For example medical disorders including alcoholism asthma and heartburn are all from physical effects of a condition or disease upon an otherwise healthy body. Chest pains can be related to heart disease of one type or another, while a peptic ulcer happens when the lining of the stomach is eroded due to too much acid production. Heartburn results when acid from the stomach attacks the lining of the digestive tract, causing pain and also a morning sour taste in the mouth.

Neurological disorders such as Parkinson's, Huntington's and ALS disease are degenerative diseases or conditions of the brain

Symptoms

Medical related sleeping disorders typically manifest as excessive sleepiness during the daytime hours and in some cases, nighttime insomnia, depending upon the disease that is involved. Others such as heartburn and asthma show as pain levels and restriction of breathing function. Peptic ulcer condition is similar. Generally, pain levels are increased, digestion is marred and there may be greater nighttime inability to get adequate air into the lungs.

Neurological related sleeping disorders show an increasing level of symptoms in various bodily functions as the brain itself enters a downward spiral.

Treatment

Most simple and even complex medical compounds can be treated with the use of appropriate medications. These treatments often are designed to improve both the underlying medical condition and the sleeping disorder that accompanies it.

Degenerative brain diseases always require pharmacological intervention and treating medically for both the brain disease and the disruption of the sleeping pattern. Examples include treating for pain and at the same time for the sleep disorder that is exhibited.