Top 5 Sleep Disorders in Houston: What Every Adult Should Know

Sleep disorders affect millions of adults across Texas, yet many people don’t recognize the symptoms until their health and daily life are severely impacted. As we move into 2026, understanding the most common sleep conditions, how they can impact your health, and what treatment options are available is essential for protecting and optimizing your long-term health.

At Comprehensive Sleep Medicine Associates (CSMA), we diagnose and treat a wide range of sleep disorders using advanced medical technology and comprehensive evaluation.

Top 5 Sleep Disorders in Houston

Sleep disorders are conditions disrupting normal sleep and often come with symptoms including snoring, daytime fatigue, and difficulty falling asleep. They affect your overall health and can stem from lifestyle, medical issues, or genetics. Sleep disorders are often treatable with lifestyle changes, therapy, medication, or sleep monitoring/support devices.  

While there are many out there, let's dig into the top five sleep disorders, that are often undiagnosed or dismissed by patients as "a normal part of growing older," that affect many adults today.

1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep because your throat muscles relax and block your airway, causing loud snoring, gasping, and brief awakenings.

OSA is often unnoticed, unless someone gives you a heads up that you snore (loud snoring, choking, or gasping for air); however, it does have signs such as waking up with a sore throat or dry mouth, chronic headaches, trouble waking up, and experiencing chronic daytime fatigue.

Untreated OSA increases the risk of hypertension, heart disease, and stroke.

2. Insomnia

Insomnia is one of the most common—and most misunderstood—sleep disorders. It involves difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early.

In Houston, stress, long work hours, and shift work all contribute to rising insomnia rates. CSMA evaluates insomnia from multiple angles, including neurological and respiratory factors.

3. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

Restless Legs Syndrome can cause uncomfortable sensations that create an overwhelming urge to move your legs continually — especially when lying down.

Common symptoms include:

• Tingling sensations

• Pulling sensations

• Nighttime restlessness

• Difficulty falling asleep

RLS often coexists with iron deficiency, sleep apnea, or neurological disorders—making proper evaluation essential.

4. Circadian Rhythm Disorders

Houston’s busy medical, industrial, and tech workforce includes thousands of shift workers whose schedules disrupt natural sleep cycles—your natural Circadian Rhythm. Your circadian rhythm is your body's natural, 24-hour internal clock that regulates your sleep-wake cycles, hormone release, metabolism, and other functions, synchronized by environmental cues like natural light changes (sunrise or sunset).

Circadian rhythm disorders lead to:

• Chronic fatigue

• Poor concentration

• Difficulty adjusting to daytime sleep

• Mood changes

CSMA Sleep Specialists can help reset your circadian cycles and improve long-term health outcomes.

5. Parasomnias

Parasomnias include sleepwalking, night terrors, REM behavior disorder, and other unusual nighttime behaviors.

These conditions require advanced expertise, especially when neurological causes are involved. CSMA is uniquely equipped to diagnose and treat parasomnias due to our neurological specialization.

Why CSMA Is Houston’s Trusted Sleep Clinic

Led by Dr. Jerald H. Simmons, a triple-board certified sleep specialist, CSMA provides expert diagnostic testing and comprehensive sleep evaluations tailored to adults of all ages.

If you’re experiencing sleep difficulties, don’t wait for symptoms to worsen. The sooner a sleep disorder is identified, the better the long-term outcome.

Take control of your sleep next year and make 2026 the year of improved health! Schedule your evaluation at Comprehensive Sleep Medicine Associates in Houston or Austin today.