A sleep disorder is broadly defined as a physical
or psychological problem that impairs your ability to sleep or
causes increased sleepiness during the non-sleeping hours. Everyone
can experience problems with sleep from time to time. However, you
might have a sleep disorder if:
- You regularly experience difficulty sleeping
- You are often tired during the day even though you slept for at
least seven hours the night before
- You have a reduced or impaired ability to perform regular
daytime activities
It is important to explore the possible causes of your
difficulty with sleeping and/or daytime sleepiness and try to find
a solution. One way to evaluate the quality of your sleep and to
see whether you have a sleep disorder is to know the
characteristics of various sleep disorders and to keep track of
your sleep patterns.
Some characteristics of sleep disorders
If you are experiencing one or more of the characteristics
below, you might not be getting proper sleep at night. Do you . .
.
- Fall asleep while driving
- Struggle to stay awake when inactive, such as when watching
television or reading?
- have difficulty paying attention or concentrating at work,
school, or home?
- have performance problems at work or school?
- often get told by others that you look sleepy?
- have difficulty with your memory?
- have slowed responses?
- have difficulty controlling your emotions?
- need to take naps almost every day?
Keep track of your patterns of sleeplessness
In order to determine if you have a sleep disorder, it is
important to pay attention to your sleep habits by keeping a sleep
diary and discussing patterns and characteristics of your sleep
with your doctor. It is important to note that insomnia can be a
sleep disorder, or can be a symptom of another problem. Insomnia
can be caused by a sleep disorder, a physical disorder, or a
psychiatric disorder. Many common sleep problems can be treated
with behavioral treatments and an increased attention to proper
sleep hygiene. Consult your doctor if you have any concerns about
your sleep patterns.