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Sleep that comes naturally is the best, but sleep that is aided with the help of medicines makes one dependent. Sleep disorders are a group of syndromes characterized by disturbance in the patient's amount of sleep, quality or timing of sleep, or in behaviors or physiological conditions associated with sleep.

Symptoms of sleep disorders:

1:  Excessive daytime sleepiness
2:  Trouble falling or staying asleep
3:  Irritability
4:  Loud snoring
5:  Morning headaches
6:  Depression, reduced sense of well-being
7:  Forgetfulness
8:  Lack of energy and motivation
9:  Obesity
10:  High blood pressure
11:  Awakening with a choking feeling or gasping for air
12:  Racing heartbeat during the night
13:  Pauses in breathing during the night
14:  Restlessness while sleeping
15:  Loss of muscle control associated with strong emotion, such as while laughing or angry

Causes of sleep disorders:

1:  While hunger may keep some awake, heavy meals, alcohol, and caffeine-containing beverages are all causes of sleep disorders. Since nicotine stimulates the nervous system and can interfere with sleep, smoking is also thought to be a cause of sleep disorders.
2:  Daytime naps are a common cause of sleep disorders. Although many people feel like napping in the late afternoon, most sleep better if they don't nap during the day.
3:  Regular exercise tends to benefit sleep, but right at bedtime exercise is one of the common causes of sleep disorders. Vigorous exercise, especially just before sleep, can cause arousal and delay sleep. The best time to exercise is in the afternoon or early evening.
4:  Most of the mental problems such as anxiety, depression, panic attacks, bipolar syndrome, paranoia and schizophrenia can cause sleep disorders.
5:  Many physical illnesses and diseases cause sleep disorders. Difficulty sleeping can result from chemical changes in the body caused by disease or by the medications used to treat the disease.
6:  Narcolepsy is the only major sleep disorder with a known genetic basis ( hereditary condition).

Treatment of sleep disorders:

a. Go to bed only when sleepy.
b. Meditation practice, breathing exercises, and yoga can break the vicious cycle of sleeplessness, worry about inability to sleep, and further sleeplessness for some people. Yoga can help some people to relax muscular tension in a direct fashion. The breathing exercises and meditation can keep some patients from obsessing about sleep.
c. If still awake after 20 minutes, leave the bedroom and return when sleepy.
d. Get up at the same time each morning regardless of the amount of sleep during the night.
e. Discontinue caffeine and nicotine in the evening (if not completely).
f. Establish a daily exercise program.
g. Avoid alcohol because it may disrupt continuity of sleep.
h. Limit fluid intake in the evening.
i. Sleep only in the bedroom.