Sleep Disorders

What are sleep disorders?

Any condition that interferes with the timing, quality, or quantity of your sleep can be considered a sleep disorder. Occasional sleep disruptions are a normal part of life, but when you find yourself unable to get quality rest over a period of weeks or months, an undiagnosed sleep disorder may be to blame. 

There are many different kinds of sleep disorders, some of which cause more serious symptoms and health risks than others. Some examples include:

• Insomnia
• Sleep apnea
• Restless legs syndrome
• Narcolepsy
• Jet lag

Parasomnias are a class of sleep disorders that can lead you to perform unusual behaviors during sleep. Some examples include teeth grinding, sleepwalking, bedwetting, and talking in your sleep. You may also have frequent nightmares.

What are some symptoms of sleep disorders?

Knowing what to look for can help you decide if your sleep issues need professional treatment. Some of the signs of sleep disorders include:

• Trouble falling asleep
• Waking throughout the night
• Inability to return to sleep
• Feeling tired even after a night’s sleep
• Problems focusing or maintaining attention
• Unexplained weight gain
• Loud snoring
• Gasping for breath during sleep
• Strong need to nap during the day
• Making unusual errors or accidents throughout the day
• Persistent worries about your sleep patterns

If you or a loved one experiences these changes, consider reaching out to the sleep specialists at Respacare to book a diagnostic work-up.

How are sleep disorders diagnosed?

Working with a skilled sleep specialist is a great way to improve your experience with sleep disorders. Reach out to Respacare to book a diagnostic visit, and meet with a physician who can help improve the quantity and quality of your sleep. 

The practice uses a number of different diagnostic tools to determine the source of your sleep disruption. Home sleep testing is a common approach and works to evaluate how you sleep at home in your normal sleep environment. 

Job-related sleep testing can help people who earn a living at night. This type of sleep problem is often called shift work disorder, and testing involves keeping a log of your sleep times. 

Maintenance of wakefulness testing assesses how alert and awake you are during the day and diagnoses daytime sleepiness. Another tool for diagnosing daytime sleepiness is multiple sleep latency testing, which assesses how quickly you’re able to fall asleep during the day when placed in a quiet, comfortable environment.

Allergies and other chronic health issues can also rob you of a good night’s sleep. Allergy testing and treatment can improve your rest, and Respacare also offers pulmonary rehab to improve breathing disorders that may be interfering with normal sleep patterns.  

Once your specialist understands more about your specific sleep disorder, they can work with you to find a treatment path that helps. That process begins by booking a visit online or over the phone today at Respacare.