Sleep Disturbances: Meaning, Types, and Common Causes

Sleep is a fundamental human need, as essential as eating and breathing for maintaining both physical and mental health. When regular, restful sleep is elusive, it can seriously impact every aspect of life.

Chronic sleep-wake disorders affect a significant portion of the population, often leading to impaired daily function and long-term health consequences. Understanding the nature and causes of these issues is the first step toward effective management and treatment.

In this comprehensive guide, we define sleep disturbances, detail the various types classified by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and outline the primary causes, diagnosis, and treatment options.

Key Takeaways 

• Sleep disturbances encompass a range of conditions, from difficulty falling asleep to disruptive nocturnal behaviors.
• The primary categories are Insomnia, Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders (obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea), Hypersomnolence, Circadian Rhythm issues, Parasomnias, and Sleep-Related Movement Disorders.
• The causes are often a mix of lifestyle factors, underlying medical conditions, and mental health issues.
• The first-line treatment for chronic insomnia is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I).
• Persistent symptoms, especially excessive daytime sleepiness or loud snoring, warrant a professional evaluation, often involving a polysomnography (sleep study).

What Are Sleep Disturbances?

Sleep disturbances refer to any condition that interferes with the ability to initiate sleep, maintain sleep, achieve restful sleep, or maintain appropriate alertness during the day.

Тhese disorders involve issues with initiating and maintaining sleep, disorders of excessive somnolence, issues with the sleep wake cycle, and dysfunctions associated with sleep stages or partial arousals.

The Four Categories of Disruption

Sleep disturbances can be grouped based on the main way they disrupt normal sleep patterns:

• Disorders of Initiating and Maintaining Sleep: These are characterized by persistent difficulty to fall asleep, stay asleep, or waking up too early. The most common example is insomnia.
• Disorders of Excessive Somnolence: These manifest as persistent and excessive daytime sleepiness, even after seemingly adequate nighttime rest. Narcolepsy falls into this category.
• Disorders of the Sleep-Wake Schedule (Circadian Rhythm): These occur when the body’s internal 24-hour clock is misaligned with the environment, making it hard to sleep or wake at desired times.
• Dysfunctions Associated with Sleep: These include specific conditions that directly disrupt sleep structure, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or Restless Legs Syndrome.

Common Symptoms of Sleep Disorders

Symptoms of sleep disorders vary widely but often share common features that significantly impact daily functioning. Recognizing these signs is crucial for seeking diagnosis.

Common symptoms include:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS): Feeling tired, drowsy, or fighting sleep during active hours.
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep: Taking more than 30 minutes to initiate sleep, or waking frequently during the night.
• Chronic daytime fatigue: Feeling exhausted or unrestored, even after a full night in bed.
• Cognitive impairment: Trouble concentrating, difficulty with memory, and slower response times.
• Mood changes: Becoming easily irritated, experiencing increased stress, or noticing disturbances in mood.
• Unwanted nighttime behaviors: Snoring, loud gasps or pauses in breathing, vivid dreams, sleepwalking, or leg movements.

Types of Sleep Disturbances

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD-3) organizes these conditions into six major categories.

Insomnia Disorders

Insomnia is the most prevalent sleep disorder, affecting an estimated 10% to 30% of the general population. Chronic insomnia involves problems with sleep initiation, duration, or quality occurring at least three nights per week for three months or longer, despite having ample opportunity for sleep.

What Causes Insomnia?

Insomnia is rarely caused by a single factor, often resulting from a combination of physiological, psychological, and behavioral issues.

Key causes include:

• Stress and Anxiety: High arousal states, or excessive worry about the ability to fall asleep, often lead to chronic insomnia.
• Environmental Factors: Light exposure, noise, or an uncomfortable temperature in the sleep environment.
• Mental Health Conditions: Insomnia frequently co-occurs with depression and anxiety disorders.
• Lifestyle Factors: Excessive intake of caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine, especially near bedtime, as well as shift work or jet lag.
• Underlying Medical Conditions: Chronic pain, acid reflux, and neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease can also be contributing factors.

Managing Chronic Insomnia

The first-line and most effective treatment for chronic insomnia is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). CBT-I is a structured, multi-component therapy focusing on identifying and correcting thoughts and behaviors that prevent sleep. Components typically include sleep restriction therapy and stimulus control therapy, which work to strengthen the association between the bed and sleep. Some studies show magnesium supplementation may support sleep in some individuals as it is believed to help relax the nervous system.

Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders

These disorders involve abnormalities in respiration during sleep. The two most common forms are:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Disorder (OSA)

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax and repeatedly collapse the upper airway during sleep. This causes breathing pauses and reduces oxygen levels, often leading to frequent, brief awakenings and severe fragmentation of sleep.

• Causes: The primary risk factors for OSA include obesity, neck circumference, structural abnormalities in the airway (e.g., enlarged tonsils), and genetics.
• Symptoms: Loud, disruptive snoring, choking or gasping during sleep (witnessed apneas), and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Central Sleep Apnea Disorder (CSA)

Central sleep apnea is less common and is characterized by a problem in the central nervous system; the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe.

• Causes: CSA is often associated with cardiovascular disease (such as heart failure), stroke, or the chronic use of opioid medications.
• Symptoms: Sudden awakenings associated with shortness of breath, difficulty staying asleep, and daytime fatigue.

The standard treatment for moderate to severe sleep apnea is Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) therapy, such as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), which uses air pressure to keep the airway open.

Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence

These disorders are defined by persistent, excessive daytime sleepiness that cannot be explained by poor nighttime sleep or misalignment of the sleep wake cycle.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a long-term neurological disorder affecting the brain’s ability to control sleep-wake cycles. Individuals with narcolepsy often enter the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep much sooner than normal, which can cause symptoms to bleed into wakefulness.

• Type 1: Caused by low levels of the brain chemical hypocretin (orexin), which regulates arousal and wakefulness. Type 1 narcolepsy includes the symptom of cataplexy (sudden, temporary loss of muscle tone, often triggered by strong emotions).
• Type 2: Excessive daytime sleepiness without the presence of cataplexy, and hypocretin levels are typically normal.

Idiopathic Hypersomnia (IH)

IH is marked by excessive sleepiness despite getting adequate or prolonged nighttime sleep (10 hours or more). The cause is unknown (idiopathic), and sufferers often experience severe sleep inertia—difficulty waking up, often feeling unrefreshed, confused, and groggy after prolonged sleep.

Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders

The circadian rhythm is the body’s internal 24-hour clock. These disorders occur when there is a mismatch between the internal biological clock and the external environment, disrupting the ideal sleep wake cycle.

Causes of circadian rhythm disorders include:

• Shift Work Disorder: Working outside the typical 9-to-5 schedule.
• Jet Lag Disorder: Rapid travel across multiple time zones.
• Delayed or Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome: An inability to fall asleep and wake up at a socially conventional time (delayed is common in teenagers; advanced is common in the elderly).
• Lifestyle: Irregular sleeping habits, late-night light exposure (e.g., electronic screens), and inconsistent meal times.

Treatment often involves chronotherapy—strategically timed light exposure (light therapy) or sometimes melatonin supplements which may gradually shift the internal clock.

Parasomnias

Parasomnias are unwanted physical events or experiences that occur during entry into sleep, within sleep, or upon arousal from sleep. These behaviors represent a partial arousal state, blending wakefulness and sleep.

Common types of parasomnias include:

• Non-REM Sleep Arousal Disorders: Sleepwalking and sleep terrors (most common in children).
• REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD): Acting out vivid dreams, often involving yelling, punching, or kicking. This disorder is a risk factor for future neurodegenerative diseases.
• Sleep Paralysis: A temporary inability to move or speak just after waking up or before falling asleep.
• Nightmare Disorder: Repeated episodes of highly disturbing and vivid dreams that lead to awakenings.

Sleep-Related Movement Disorders (SRMD)

SRMDs are conditions involving excessive or abnormal movements that disrupt sleep.

The most common SRMD is Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis-Ekbom Disease. RLS is characterized by an irresistible urge to move the legs, usually due to unpleasant, creeping, pulling, or tingling sensations. Symptoms typically worsen in the evening or night when resting. The cause is thought to be related to abnormalities in brain iron metabolism and the dopaminergic system.

Treatment often includes iron replacement therapy (if a deficiency is identified) and certain anti-seizure or dopaminergic medications, depending on the severity.

Primary Causes and Risk Factors

The causes of sleep disturbances are interconnected and generally fall into three broad categories:

• Mental Health Factors: Psychiatric disorders are strongly linked to poor sleep. Conditions like anxiety, depression, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) often increase emotional arousal and hyper-vigilance, making it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. The relationship is bidirectional: poor sleep can also exacerbate mental health symptoms.
• Lifestyle and Environmental Influences: Irregular routines, such as shift work or frequent travel, directly challenge the body’s ability to maintain a consistent sleep wake cycle. Other factors include excessive noise, light pollution, and the habitual use of substances like caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco.
• Medical Conditions: Numerous underlying medical issues can affect sleep. These include conditions causing pain (arthritis, fibromyalgia), hormonal disorders (hyperthyroidism, menopause), respiratory conditions (asthma), and neurological problems. Notably, obstructive sleep apnea is a major medical cause of fragmented sleep.

Short-Term vs. Long-Term Health Effects

Untreated sleep disturbances carry a significant health burden, impacting quality of life immediately and increasing risk for serious conditions over time.

Short-Term Consequences (Cognitive & Mood)

In the short term, the effects are mostly cognitive and emotional:

• Increased stress responsivity and mood disturbances.
• Significant deficits in memory, concentration, and performance, potentially leading to errors or accidents.
• Impaired immune function, leading to increased susceptibility to illness.
• In children and adolescents, poor school performance and behavioral problems.

Long-Term Consequences (Chronic Disease Risk)

Chronic sleep disturbances are associated with an increased risk for several serious health issues:

• Cardiovascular Disease: Chronic sleep loss is linked to the development of hypertension and an increased risk of stroke and heart attack.
• Metabolic Disorders: Poor sleep increases the risk of weight-related issues, including obesity, dyslipidemia (abnormal cholesterol), and the development of Type 2 diabetes.
• Cancer Risk: Some studies suggest sleep deprivation may be associated as a risk risk factor for certain cancers.

How Sleep Disturbances Are Diagnosed

A physician typically begins the diagnostic process by taking a detailed medical history and assessing diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors.

Diagnostic Tools

• Sleep Diary/Actigraphy: The patient tracks their sleep and wake times over several weeks. Actigraphy uses a wrist-worn device (similar to a watch) to objectively measure movement and rest periods, helping to confirm patterns of fragmented sleep or a misaligned sleep wake cycle.
• Polysomnography (PSG): This is the gold-standard comprehensive sleep study, usually conducted overnight at a sleep center. The equipment records brain waves (EEG), muscle activity (EMG), eye movements (EOG), heart rate, and breathing patterns, which is critical for diagnosing conditions like obstructive sleep apnea. This study is also required as a preliminary tool prior to further testing when diagnosing narcolepsy.
• Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT): Used to measure the degree of daytime sleepiness and how quickly a person falls asleep during scheduled naps. It’s often used following a PSG to diagnose narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia.

When to Seek Professional Help

You should consult a healthcare provider or a sleep specialist if your sleep problems persist for more than three months and significantly interfere with daily functioning, or if self-help measures have failed.

Signs that require professional evaluation include:

• Loud, persistent snoring or witnessed pauses in breathing, suggesting obstructive sleep apnea.
• Inability to fall asleep or stay asleep most nights.
• Excessive daytime sleepiness that makes you drowsy at work or while driving.
• Unusual or disruptive behaviors during sleep (e.g., sleepwalking, acting out dreams).

Alongside behavioral therapies, sleep hygiene, and medical care, some individuals explore nutritional support as part of a broader strategy to help the nervous system unwind and promote more consistent, restorative sleep.

If you need an additional sleep booster, check out our premium sleep supplement. Restore Sleep formula is the only formula of its kind on the market that combines the 7 most powerful forms of chelated magnesium as well as includes two additional nutrients, including L-Theanine, that boost the effectiveness of this supplement to help achieve deep restorative sleep, enhance cognitive function and improve the relaxation response. 

​

Click here to learn more about Restore Sleep and how it can change your life for the better through providing your body with the best magnesium complex to improve your brain function, sleep quality and relaxation response. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is chronic insomnia considered a mental health disorder?

No, chronic insomnia is classified as asleep disorder. However, it often co-occurs with and is significantly influenced by underlying mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Addressing the psychological factors is a core part of its treatment, notably through CBT-I.

What is the most common cause of loud snoring?

Loud, habitual snoring, especially if accompanied by daytime sleepiness, is often caused by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Snoring can occur when air flow is turbulent due to relaxation of the tissues in the back of the throat. If the obstruction causes a pause in breathing, it is considered apnea.However, loud snoring in the absence of other symptoms, is often benign.

Can herbal supplements effectively treat central disorders of hypersomnolence?

Central disorders of hypersomnolence, like Narcolepsy and Idiopathic Hypersomnia, are complex neurological conditions usually requiring pharmaceutical management (such as stimulants or wakefulness-promoting agents) and behavioral interventions. While certain herbs (e.g., valerian root for general sleep) may promote relaxation, there is limited evidence that they can effectively treat the underlying neurological causes of these severe conditions.

References

Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep

Sleep Deprivation, Sleep Disorders, and Chronic Disease

Sleep Disorder

Narcolepsy

Common Sleep Disorders in Adults: Diagnosis and Management

Chronic Insomnia

The Effects of Magnesium – Melatonin – Vit B Complex Supplementation in Treatment of Insomnia

Central Sleep Apnea

REM sleep behavior disorder

Sleep Disorders