How to Talk to Your Doctor About Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders, including insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy and restless-leg syndrome, affect millions of people every day. While many people realize the short-term effects of not getting enough sleep, they don't know about the long-term health problems that can develop, such as high blood pressure and heart disease. That's why it is important to speak with your doctor immediately if you feel you're suffering from a sleep disorder.

Instructions

Determine Which Type of Sleep Disorder You Might Have

1. Find out whether you're suffering from insomnia, which is the general inability to fall asleep at night. There are three types of insomnia: transient insomnia, which lasts for just a few days and is usually caused by excitement or a change in sleep schedules; short-term insomnia, which can last for up to three weeks and is usually caused by stress or worry; and chronic insomnia, which lasts for more than a month and may be the result of a more serious medical condition.

2. Ask someone to observe you sleeping if you think you have sleep apnea. It is marked by the interruption of sleep due to the blockage of the air pathways through your mouth and lungs.

3. Investigate whether or not you may be suffering from restless-leg syndrome, marked by a tingling or itching sensation in your legs that may prevent you from falling asleep.

4. Schedule a visit with your doctor if you believe you have narcolepsy, a condition in which people suddenly fall asleep during the day.

5. Talk to your doctor about other sleep disorders, called parasomnias, that you might be experiencing. Such disorders include nightmares, night terrors, sleepwalking, sleep talking, teeth grinding and bedwetting.

Talk to Your Doctor About Sleep Disorders

1. Fill out the Sleep Assessor online questionnaire on the Shuteye.com website (see Resources below). This may help you in evaluating your sleep problems.

2. Ask your doctor for the best course of treatment. Some sleep disorders require a simple course of treatment, such as relaxation techniques or mild sedatives. Other sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, may require surgery to correct the problem.

Tips & Warnings

• Never delay having a talk with your doctor if you think you may have a sleep disorder. Some sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy and sleep apnea, can be quite dangerous and should not go untreated by a doctor.