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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Everyone has their own particular sleep needs. In five easy steps, you can determine just how much sleep you need.

Start by setting aside time to focus on your sleep and you'll have taken the first step today. By following these instructions you'll be better rested before you know it.

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In case you were too busy celebrating Halloween to remember, don't forget to set your clocks back one hour this morning.

Daylight savings time ended at 2 a.m. on the morning of November 1, when the shift was made back to standard time with clocks moved back one hour.

Do yourself a favor and use this time to get some extra sleep.

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In a society that increasingly runs 24 hours a day, someone has to work those non-traditional shifts to keep things running. There can be profoundly varied professions involved: doctors on call at a hospital, pilots at the controls of a red-eye flight, clerks at a convenience store, maids cleaning deserted business offices, or countless others. These demands can present interesting dilemmas.

Given the demands of working odd hours, and human limits, one might wonder: is it ever okay to sleep on the job? Certainly we don't want someone "asleep at the switch". However, some of these jobs naturally have down-time during the night, perhaps enough to allow the person to catch a few winks. Should this be encouraged or frowned upon?

In such a discussion, we must acknowledge the limits of what we can do. Demands sometimes exceed that which we can tolerate. Our bodies prefer to follow a circadian rhythm, and being up all night can lead to significant distress. In some instances, providing structured relief of duties may be a solution. In addition, acknowledging that we weren't really meant to function at our peak 24 hours a day may give some leeway where it is needed.

Additionally, we must reflect on our collective expectations: of those on whom we place the demands to maintain our 24-hour society, and of ourselves.

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated an investigation into whether pilots who overflew their destination may have fallen asleep in the cockpit.

The Northwest airlines flight missed its destination of Minneapolis by 150 miles before the pilots realized their mistake and turned around over Wisconsin. They also failed to make radio contact with ground controllers for more than an hour, leading to speculation that they may have fallen asleep. The crew reported that they had become distracted during a heated discussion about airline policy and lost track of their location.

The Air National Guard was put on alert, but no jets were scrambled into the air to intercept the plane. At an air speed of seven miles per minute, it wouldn't take long to become far off course. The plane with 144 passengers and five crew landed safely without incident.

The FAA is currently updating rules regarding how long pilots can fly and remain on duty. A similar incident occurred in January 2008 when two pilots fell asleep for at least 18 minutes during a midmorning flight from Honolulu to Hilo, Hawaii. The captain of that flight was later diagnosed with sleep apnea.

Occasionally snoring isn't so innocent, especially when it is caused by a deviated septum.

Snoring is a noise created by the partial obstruction of the upper airway, typically either the nasal passage or the throat. More complete obstruction may lead to sleep apnea.

It is estimated that some 80 percent of people have a deviated septum, so learn what it is and how it may affect your sleep.

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Most people who come to this website are looking for specific information about a sleep disorder. In order to make this the best resource it can be, I need your help.

Start by voting for one of your favorite topics below. If you don't see yours listed, add it in the comments. This will help guide which articles will be a priority over the next weeks and months. Also, if you would like to join the discussion and have your questions answered directly, check out the sleep disorders forum.

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