Insomnia, Narcolepsy & Restless Legs

What is “insomnia”? (NHLBI)
     · Insomnia is a condition in which you have trouble falling or staying asleep. It is a common condition that can cause daytime sleepiness and lack of energy.
     · There are two types of insomnia: secondary and primary. Secondary insomnia is the most common type. "Secondary" means that the insomnia is a symptom or a side-effect of some other problem. Primary insomnia is not a side-effect of another problem, and it generally persists for 1 month or longer.
     · Insomnia that lasts for more than 1 month and is present at least 3 nights a week is called chronic insomnia. Insomnia that lasts for less than 1 month is called short-term or acute insomnia.
     · Chronic insomnia is a serious problem that can affect your mood, safety, and performance at work or school.
     · Secondary insomnia often goes away or improves without treatment if you can eliminate its cause.

What is “narcolepsy”? (NHLBI)
     · Narcolepsy is a lifelong condition that causes you to fall asleep suddenly during the day.
     · Narcolepsy may cause sudden loss of muscle tone and control while awake (cataplexy), the inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up (sleep paralysis), and/or vivid dreams while falling asleep or waking up (hallucinations).
     · The symptoms of narcolepsy can cause accidents; injuries; and problems with learning, working, or connecting with others.
     · Narcolepsy tends to develop first between the ages of 15 and 30.
     · The exact causes of narcolepsy are not known. Many factors probably work together to cause a lack of the brain chemical hypocretin, which promotes wakefulness.

What is “Restless Legs Syndrome”? (NHLBI)
     · Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensory disorder causing an almost irresistible urge to move the legs. The urge to move the legs is usually due to unpleasant feelings in the legs that occur when at rest. Movement eases the feelings but only for a while.
     · Symptoms of RLS can range from mild to severe. Symptoms tend to get worse over time. They sometimes begin during childhood.
     · People with RLS may describe the unpleasant feelings in their legs as creeping, crawling, tingling, burning, or painful. Often, the feelings are hard to describe.
     · Many people with RLS also have periodic limb movement disorder. This is a condition in which a person’s legs twitch or jerk uncontrollably every 10 to 60 seconds. This usually happens during sleep.
     · RLS can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. People with RLS often don’t get enough sleep and may feel tired and sleepy during the day.