Discover expert insights on top 10 sleeping disorders and ways to improve sleep. Professional advice and tips from LA Mattress Store to improve your sleep an...
Poor sleep isn't always just stress or a bad mattress. Millions of Americans have an underlying sleep disorder they don't know about. Understanding what's disrupting your sleep is the first step toward fixing it.
This guide covers the 10 most common sleep disorders — what they feel like, what causes them, and what actually helps.
Note: This is educational information, not medical advice. If you suspect a sleep disorder, see a doctor or sleep specialist.
The most common sleep disorder. Insomnia means difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early — and feeling unrefreshed despite time in bed.
What it feels like: Lying awake for an hour or more, racing thoughts at bedtime, waking at 3am unable to get back to sleep, dreading going to bed.
Common causes: Stress, anxiety, depression, irregular sleep schedule, too much caffeine or screen time before bed, an uncomfortable sleep environment.
What helps: Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the gold standard treatment. Sleep hygiene improvements (consistent wake time, dark/cool room, no screens 30–60 min before bed) also make a meaningful difference. Medication is sometimes appropriate short-term under a doctor's guidance.
Sleep apnea causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep. The most common type, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), occurs when throat muscles relax and block the airway.
What it feels like: Loud snoring, waking up gasping, extreme daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, difficulty concentrating. Many people don't know they have it until a partner notices.
Common causes: Excess weight, anatomical factors (jaw shape, tonsils), aging, alcohol use, sleeping on your back.
What helps: CPAP therapy is the most effective treatment for moderate to severe OSA. Weight loss, positional therapy (avoiding back sleeping), and oral appliances can also help. Requires diagnosis — don't self-treat.
RLS causes uncomfortable sensations in the legs — often described as crawling, tingling, or aching — along with an irresistible urge to move them. Symptoms typically worsen at night and when sitting or lying still.
What it feels like: Legs that feel itchy, twitchy, or creepy-crawly at bedtime. Moving temporarily relieves the sensation. Makes it very hard to fall asleep.
Common causes: Iron deficiency, kidney disease, pregnancy, certain medications, genetic factors.
What helps: Iron supplementation if deficient (requires blood test), dopamine-related medications for severe cases, avoiding caffeine and alcohol, warm baths before bed, and stretching or light walking in the evening.
Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that disrupts the brain's ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles. People with narcolepsy experience overwhelming daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks.
What it feels like: Falling asleep involuntarily during the day — at work, mid-conversation, or even while eating. Type 1 narcolepsy also involves cataplexy: sudden, brief loss of muscle tone triggered by strong emotions (laughing, surprise).
Common causes: Loss of hypocretin-producing neurons in the brain, often triggered by an autoimmune response. Genetic and environmental factors play a role.
What helps: Medications (stimulants, sodium oxybate), scheduled naps, and lifestyle adjustments. Requires diagnosis and ongoing management by a neurologist or sleep specialist.
Your internal clock (circadian rhythm) governs when you feel sleepy and awake. When it's out of sync with your environment, sleep quality and timing suffer.
Common types:
What helps: Light therapy (morning bright light exposure for delayed phase), melatonin timed precisely to your schedule, and gradual sleep schedule shifting.
Parasomnias are disruptive sleep behaviors that happen during specific sleep stages. They're more common in children but can persist into adulthood.
Common types:
What helps: Treating underlying sleep deprivation or sleep apnea (which often trigger parasomnias), stress reduction, consistent sleep schedule, and safety modifications for sleepwalkers. Medical evaluation recommended for REM sleep behavior disorder.
Hypersomnia means excessive daytime sleepiness despite getting adequate or even excessive nighttime sleep. People with idiopathic hypersomnia may sleep 10+ hours and still feel groggy and unrefreshed.
What it feels like: Severe "sleep inertia" — feeling drunk or disoriented for hours after waking (sometimes called "sleep drunkenness"). Difficulty waking to alarms. Naps don't feel refreshing.
What helps: Medication (stimulants, low-sodium oxybate in some cases), strict sleep schedules, and avoiding alcohol. Requires ruling out other causes like sleep apnea, depression, or thyroid issues first.
Sleep bruxism is grinding or clenching teeth during sleep. It's more widespread than most people realize — many don't know they do it until a dentist notices wear patterns on their teeth.
What it feels like: Jaw soreness or headaches upon waking, worn or sensitive teeth, a partner reporting grinding sounds.
Common causes: Stress and anxiety, misaligned bite, sleep apnea (often co-occurs), stimulant use (caffeine, certain medications).
What helps: A custom night guard from a dentist, stress reduction techniques, treating underlying sleep apnea if present, and reducing caffeine. Biofeedback therapy in some cases.
PLMD causes repetitive, involuntary movements of the limbs during sleep — usually the legs. Unlike RLS, which occurs while awake, PLMD happens when you're asleep and often goes unnoticed by the person experiencing it.
What it feels like: Your partner may notice the kicking or jerking. You may wake frequently without knowing why, leading to daytime fatigue.
Common causes: Iron deficiency, kidney disease, certain medications (antidepressants, antihistamines), often co-occurs with RLS.
What helps: Treating underlying deficiencies, medication adjustments, dopaminergic agents for severe cases. Sleep study (polysomnography) is usually needed for accurate diagnosis.
Despite the alarming name, this is a benign condition where a person hears or feels a loud imaginary noise (bang, crash, explosion) as they're falling asleep or waking up. There is no pain and no physical danger.
What it feels like: A sudden loud sound — like a gunshot or cymbal crash — in your head as you drift off to sleep. Can be accompanied by a brief flash of light. Startling and disorienting, but harmless.
Common causes: Sleep deprivation, high stress, certain medications. More common during periods of extreme fatigue.
What helps: Reducing stress, improving sleep hygiene, and reassurance that it's not dangerous. Episodes typically decrease with better rest.
Whether you have a diagnosed disorder or just poor sleep habits, these fundamentals make a real difference:
If sleep problems persist despite good habits, speak with your doctor. Many sleep disorders are very treatable once properly diagnosed — but they're hard to manage on your own without knowing what you're dealing with.
Insomnia is the most prevalent, affecting roughly 30% of adults at some level. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most commonly diagnosed sleep disorder that requires medical treatment.
Key signs include: difficulty falling or staying asleep despite adequate time in bed, extreme daytime sleepiness that interferes with daily function, unusual behaviors during sleep (reported by a partner), waking unrefreshed consistently, or loud snoring with gasping. A sleep study can confirm a diagnosis.
A mattress can reduce physical discomfort and minimize sleep disruptions from pain or pressure, but it won't treat conditions like sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or RLS. However, poor sleep quality from an uncomfortable sleep surface can worsen existing sleep issues. A good mattress is a foundation — not a cure.
Yes. Sleep disorders often co-occur. Sleep apnea frequently occurs alongside bruxism, PLMD, and insomnia. Getting a comprehensive sleep evaluation can help identify all contributing factors.
If poor sleep is affecting your daily life, mood, or cognitive function for more than a few weeks, it's worth a conversation with your doctor. Don't wait years — sleep deprivation has real health consequences and most disorders are very manageable with proper treatment.
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