---
id:"kb-2026-00463"
title:"Sleep Disorders"
schema_type:"TechArticle"
category:"health"
language:"en"
confidence:"high"
last_verified:"2026-05-22"
generation_method:"ai_assisted"
ai_models:["claude-opus"]
derived_from_human_seed:true
primary_sources:
  - title:"International Classification of Sleep Disorders (3rd Ed)"
    type:"standard"
    year:2014
    url:"https://aasm.org/clinical-resources/international-classification-sleep-disorders/"
    institution:"AASM"
secondary_sources:
  - title: "MDN Web Docs — HTTP"
    type: "documentation"
    year: 2026
    url: "https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP"
    institution: "Mozilla"
  - title: "RESTful Web APIs"
    authors: ["Richardson", "Amundsen"]
    type: "book"
    year: 2013
    url: "https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/restful-web-apis/9781449359713/"
    institution: "O'Reilly"
completeness: 0.88
ai_citations:
  last_citation_check:"2026-05-22"
---

## TL;DR

Sleep disorders affect millions. Insomnia: difficulty falling/staying asleep (most common). Sleep apnea: breathing repeatedly stops during sleep — CPAP treatment. Narcolepsy: excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden sleep attacks. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS): uncomfortable sensation + urge to move legs. Parasomnias: sleepwalking, night terrors.

## Core Explanation

Insomnia: CBT-I (cognitive behavioral therapy) is first-line treatment — more effective than sleeping pills long-term. Sleep apnea: affects 10-30% of adults, mostly undiagnosed. Narcolepsy: caused by loss of hypocretin/orexin neurons — autoimmune. Parasomnias: occur during non-REM (sleepwalking) or REM (nightmares). Circadian rhythm disorders: shift work, jet lag, delayed sleep phase.

## Further Reading

- [International Classification of Sleep Disorders (3rd Ed)](https://aasm.org/clinical-resources/international-classification-sleep-disorders/)