Why Am I Always So Tired? What To Know About Sleep Disorders

Sleep is a wonderful thing. It’s restorative. Getting enough each day helps the body repair itself, boosts immunity, reduces stress, and enhances mental focus and memory.

However, when normal sleep patterns are disrupted or insufficient, it can affect personal health by increasing the risk of chronic illnesses, mental health issues, workplace accidents, and ultimately, lifespan.

What Are Sleep Disorders?

Adults should get at least 7 hours of sleep each night.¹ Less sleep or poor-quality sleep can lead to health issues known as sleep disorders.

Some of the more common sleep disorders include insomnia, sleep apnea, sleepwalking, and restless leg syndrome.²

• Insomnia. A common sleep disorder affecting nearly one-third of US adults,³ causing difficulty falling or staying asleep. Though usually not dangerous short-term, it can lead to daytime tiredness, fatigue, and irritability.
• Sleep apnea. A potentially serious sleep disorder characterized by repeated pauses and starts in breathing.⁴ Common signs include loud snoring and feeling tired despite getting a full night’s sleep.
• Sleepwalking. A sleep disorder involving walking or wake-like behaviors during sleep. More common in children, it usually resolves by adolescence. In adults, it may indicate an underlying issue. The main risk is self-injury.⁵
• Restless leg syndrome. A sleep disorder that prevents sleep or causes awakening, often linked to tingling, cramping, or aching sensations in the legs, worsening during inactivity.⁵

What Causes Sleep Disorder?

There are different causes for different sleep disorders.³ The primary contributing factors for the most common disorders are:

• Neurological.⁶ Conditions like Parkinson’s, epilepsy, and MS notably impact sleep by disrupting brain regulation of sleep-wake cycles, causing chronic sleep issues.
• Mental health.⁷ Anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues often cause sleep problems. Stress and emotional distress can disrupt sleep, worsening mental health.
• Lifestyle.⁸ Poor sleep hygiene, irregular schedules, and excessive screen time disrupt sleep. Caffeine or alcohol near bedtime also impairs restful sleep.
• Medical.⁹ Chronic illnesses such as asthma, arthritis, and GERD disrupt sleep through pain, discomfort, and frequent awakenings, leading to long-term sleep deprivation.

“Understanding the root cause of sleep disorders is essential for effective treatment. A holistic approach that combines behavioral therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes often yields the best results.”

Dr. Kesha Wilford

Cooper and Inspira Neuroscience

How are Sleep Disorders Diagnosed and Evaluated?

There can be many different causes and underlying reasons for why someone has a sleep disorder. Diagnosis is not always cut-and-dry.

After an initial physical exam, a patient is asked to provide as complete a medical history, medication history, and account of their sleep habits and symptoms as possible.

The more information available, the more accurate a diagnosis can be. Tests and questionnaires that may be asked for:

• Sleep diary. A personal record of a patient’s sleep patterns. Details such as a log of their bedtimes, hours of sleep, how many times they woke up during a given night, and a self-assessment of their sleep quality are routinely requested.³
• Polysomnography. A comprehensive overnight sleep study in a sleep lab that monitors brain activity, eye movements, heart rate, and breathing to accurately diagnose sleep disorders.
• Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT). A tool used to quantify excessive daytime sleepiness by measuring how fast a patient falls asleep.
• Home Sleep Apnea Test. A test that involves wearing monitoring equipment at home to track breathing patterns and detect any abnormalities.

How are Sleep Disorders Treated?

The treatment approach for sleep disorders varies based on the underlying cause and specific condition. Here are some common therapies and treatments:

• Lifestyle Changes: Keeping a consistent sleep routine, creating a relaxing sleep environment, and avoiding stimulants before bedtime can greatly improve sleep quality.
• Medication: Medications for sleep disorders vary by individual and may include sleep aids, antidepressants, or drugs for underlying conditions like restless leg syndrome.
• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): For sleep apnea, CPAP is a common treatment. It involves wearing a mask during sleep that delivers continuous airflow to keep the airway open.
• Device Implants: A device like Inspire® is implanted non-invasively to deliver pulses to airway muscles, keeping the airway open. Controlled via an app, it manages sleep apnea.

A Final Word on Sleep Disorders

Considering the many health benefits of a good night’s sleep, poor sleep should never be regarded as normal. Unlike simply being sleep deprived or lacking rest, an undiagnosed and untreated sleep disorder can add stress to the body and lead to serious health issues.

The sleep disorder team of specialists and experts at Cooper and Inspira Neuroscience is ready to help.

To schedule an appointment, call 855-30-NEURO to speak directly with a scheduler. Or click here to have one of our reps call you back.

References

1. (2025). Sleep Facts in the U.S. 2025. Sleep Deprivation Stats. In: The Global Statistics. https://www.theglobalstatistics.com/united-states-sleep-facts/[↩]
2. Ohayon, M. (2008). Prevalence and comorbidity of sleep disorders in general population. Sleep 31(1), pp. 69-82. https://pubmed.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/18018450/[↩]
3. Karna, Bibek. Sankari, Abdulghan. Tatikonda, Geethika. (2023) Sleep Disorder. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/books/NBK560720/[↩][↩][↩]
4. (2025). Sleep Apnea – Symptoms. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-apnea/symptoms[↩]
5. Suni, Eric. (2025) Sleepwalking: What is Somnambulism? Sleep Foundation. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-disorders[↩][↩]
6. (2015). Parkinson’s Disease and Sleep/Wake Disturbances. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience 22(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocn.2014.10.019[↩]
7. (2018). Prevalence and correlates of sleep disorder symptoms in psychiatric disorders. Sleep Medicine 48, pp. 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2018.06.004[↩]
8. (2023). Sleep and circadian hygiene practices association with sleep quality among Brazilian adults. Sleep Health 9(1), pp. 1-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/38162593[↩]
9. (2007). The relevance of sleep abnormalities to chronic inflammatory conditions. Sleep Medicine Reviews 11(3), pp. 205-218. https://pubmed.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/17431741[↩]