People who have the following conditions or lifestyle habits are at a higher risk of suffering from any type of sleep disorder:

depression
diabetes
lack of exercise
obesity
poor diet
use of prescription medication.

In general, the effects of sleep deprivation depend on the type of sleep disorder from which you suffer. However, some of the more general effects of lack of sleep include:

blurry vision
depression (While depression can cause a lack of sleep, it can also arise from sleep deprivation.)
dizziness
dramatic weight loss or gain
hallucinations
heart disease
hypertension (high blood pressure)
irritability
memory loss
nausea

weight gain
tremors
trouble speaking.

Although many of us experience the occasional night of poor sleep, persistent sleep disorders can clearly cause a number of serious conditions. As a result, getting immediate medical treatment for your sleep disorder is important to maintaining good health.