Sleep enuresis, a.k.a. bedwetting

Bedwetting, or nocturnal enuresis, happens to a lot of children. Boys are more likely to suffer from enuresis than girls, and the condition often runs in families. A large study in Quebec found that 25% of children experience enuresis. Although bedwetting is a cause of embarrassment and frustration, it usually isn’t a serious problem in children. Adults who wet their beds often have more serious underlying conditions.

There are two kinds of enuresis -- primary and secondary. In primary enuresis, a person has been unable to have urinary control from infancy onward. This usually indicates that the child's bladder control is developing a little slower than normal. In secondary enuresis, a person has a relapse after previously having been able to have urinary control. Emotional factors, including stress, insecurity or even depression may play a role, but more often a specific cause cannot be pinpointed.

In adults, enuresis can be caused by medical conditions (including diabetes, urinary tract infection, or sleep apnea) or by psychiatric disorders. Some treatments for bedwetting include behavior modification, alarm devices, and medications. Limiting liquids before bedtime and encouraging urination before bed is usually the course of action for children.

Confusional arousals

Confusional arousals often occur in infants and toddlers, and less often in adults.These episodes may begin with the person crying and thrashing around in bed. The individual may appear awake, confused and upset, yet resists attempts by others to comfort or console. The episodes may last up to half an hour and usually end with the person calming, waking briefly, and then returning to sleep.

Because disorders of arousal are less common in older people, adults suffering from these disorders should seek evaluation. In some cases these events are triggered by other conditions such as sleep apnea, heartburn, or periodic limb movements during sleep. A sleep specialist should evaluate the person’s behavior and medical history.

Nocturnal Eating Syndrome

NES or Night Eating Syndrome leads people to wake up and eat. SRES or Sleep Related Eating Syndrome refers to those who eat in their sleep. SRES is a type of somnambulism and a can be dangerous if the sufferer chokes or suffers an injury while cooking. It is more common in women than men. NES is not so immediately dangerous, because the person is rational when up. It can lead to weight gain and sleep disruptions, which may have long-term negative effects. People with NES often skip breakfast, eating nothing in the morning. Both NES and SRES are grouped under the classification Nocturnal Eating Syndrome, also called Sleep-Related Eating.

Sleep Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating during sleep. This is not an accepted disorder by the sleep medicine community, but some experts consider it a disorder. Another name is "night sweats". The key thing is that the sweating happens when the person is asleep much more than when awake. Night sweats are typically not dangerous or necessarily a sign of an underlying condition. Most people feel better sleeping in a cool environment; there may be evolutionary reasons for this. People of all ages can get hyperhidrosis although it is most common among young adults.

Catathrenia

Catathrenia is when people groan in their sleep on a regular basis. It happens more often in REM sleep although it can occur in any stage. While snoring is a sound produced during inhalation, catathrenia happens during exhalation. It is unknown why it happens, but it has been established that the groaning is not a signal or pain or unhappy dreams. Although the groaning can be loud and disturb others in the house, the person with catathrenia does not wake up because of it. In the polysomnogram test used to diagnose sleep disorders, it is often confused for central sleep apnea. CPAP has been tried on people with catathrenia but hasn't yet become a standard treatment. Unlike apnea, catathrenia is not considered dangerous, so the impetutus for treatment has not been as strong.

Sleep Disorders

Dyssomnias

Parsomnias