Symptoms and Diagnosis of Sleep Disorders
By Brandon Peters, M.D., About.com Guide to Sleep Disorders
For those who suffer from difficulties sleeping, it may seem like your health and well-being is unraveling before your very eyes. It challenging to sort out what symptoms mean, but a careful analysis and evaluation will lead you to the appropriate diagnosis. Once this is known, it is important to assess how your general health may be affected so that you will be committed to the proper treatment.
Sleep Disorder Basics
It is important to recognize that though the symptoms of sleep disorders may be similar -- including excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue -- the causes may be quite distinct. Discover the varying subtleties of sleep disorders and learn some of the basic symptoms for each.
Causes of Sleep Disorders
Aside from the numerous recognized causes of sleep disorders, many medical conditions often have sleep disruption as one of the possible symptoms. It may be possible to improve your sleep by recognizing and eliminating some of these potential causes.
Getting a Diagnosis
If you believe that you suffer from a sleep disorder, how should you go about getting a diagnosis? Educate yourself on how to find a sleep specialist or sleep center. Find out what testing should be done, and what options are available to you. Actively preparing yourself for the process will also help when the diagnosis becomes clear.
- Diagnostic Tests for Sleep Disorders
- Epworth Sleepiness Scale
- What to Expect in a Polysomnogram
- Multiple Sleep Latency Testing (MSLT)
Sleep and Your Health
Many elements of our general health are profoundly, and sometimes unusually, dependent on how well we sleep at night. Poor sleep has many potential complications from gaining weight to worsening diabetes or high blood pressure to sudden death. Explore some of these potential relationships and understand how important a good night's sleep may actually be.
