It is sometimes difficult to objectively characterize something like sleepiness. We know it when we feel it, but it may be something that is difficult to put a number on.

The Epworth sleepiness scale is devised to do just that. It is routinely used to assess the degree of an individual's sleepiness. This is done by presenting common situations and asking how likely you are to fall asleep in them.

This can be a useful measure to establish a starting point in those with sleep disorders and also to monitor a response to treatment over time.

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If you experience excessive daytime sleepiness, you may be a candidate for multiple sleep latency testing (MSLT).

MSLT is a protocol that is often used to test whether an individual has an excessive drive to sleep. This is determined through a series of nap studies that determine sleep latency, or how long it takes you to fall asleep. Explore how MSLT is conducted and what it measures.

In the right scenarios, it may be used to diagnose both narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia.

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We have all had those sleepless nights. We toss and turn, struggling to find a comfortable position. Every little noise wakes us. We check the clock a million times. This may be a simple case of acute insomnia, but when is it something more? When does this cross the line and become a disorder? Learn about insomnia, how often it occurs, its classical symptoms, and the most common causes. Then share what most often causes your insomnia.

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It is something that you may experience nearly every morning when you wake up: that compelling, nearly irresistible desire to go back to sleep. Even after you get up, you may feel groggy and ready to return to bed. This is called sleep inertia, and it can make it very difficult to wake up and function at your best. Learn about this phenomenon and its potential cause.

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