How to Identify Common Symptoms of Sleep Disorders

Sleep problems are common, but recurring symptoms may indicate a sleep disorder. The NCCIH melatonin safety guide also explains why supplements are not a substitute for evaluating persistent sleep problems.

How to Identify Common Symptoms of Sleep Disorders

While qualified health care professionals can diagnose these symptoms, recognizing some of the signs of a sleep disorder will indicate to you when you need to visit a doctor and when you can handle the problem on your own.

Excessive Daytime Tiredness

If you are still excessively tired despite regularly getting an age-appropriate amount of sleep, consider speaking with a healthcare professional. The Sleep Foundation sleep-duration guide summarizes typical sleep needs by age.

Narcolepsy

One possible cause is narcolepsy, a neurological sleep disorder described in the NINDS narcolepsy overview. Symptoms often begin in childhood or young adulthood and require professional evaluation.

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is the most common symptom. For someone with narcolepsy, the person may experience an average level of alertness for most of the day and then suddenly fall asleep, generally for only a few minutes to maybe half an hour. The person wakes up feeling refreshed but may then experience more episodes of EDS throughout the day.

These sudden "sleep attacks" may happen while the person is performing everyday tasks, such as talking to friends, eating, or writing. In some cases, the person may continue the job, with an impaired ability while the person is in a sleep state. When the person awakes, they don't remember performing the function.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea may also cause excessive daytime tiredness. The NHLBI sleep apnea overview explains how repeated breathing interruptions can fragment sleep and affect health.

Since the sleep disturbance is so short, the person does not remember it. The troubles in sleep, though, cause the person not to get adequate sleep. Excessive tiredness, struggling to stay awake, and falling asleep throughout the day are all signs the person's sleep might not have been as restful as assumed.

Of course, insomnia may also lead to excessive tiredness. If you regularly struggle to get to sleep or to stay asleep, the lack of sleep will eventually wear on you. You may be in a perpetual groggy or tired state. At times, you may find yourself dozing off during the day since you did not get enough sleep at night.

Snoring

For many people, snoring is merely a part of their lives. About half of the people who snore also suffer from sleep apnea. It does not mean every snorer needs to rush to their doctor's office right away for sleep apnea. It is essential to understand when snoring might be an indicator of a sleep disorder. Some of the signs you might be suffering from sleep apnea rather than just snoring include:

• Loud, frequent snoring
• Sleep interrupted when the person stops breathing for a short time
• Gasping or choking while sleeping
• Excessive restlessness while sleeping
• Other health issues, including extreme tiredness during the day, weight gain, and memory loss

In many cases, you may not be the one to notice these signs of a potential sleep apnea problem. Your spouse, another family member, or a friend may see them. Listen to the person, and seek help as soon as possible.

Long-Lasting Exhaustion

While struggling to fall asleep for a night or two or feeling exhausted for a few days at a time might not be a huge issue, the longer the symptoms last, the higher the chance you are suffering from a sleep disorder. There isn't a magical number for how long you should wait before seeking medical help concerning your sleep issue.

If the problem is disrupting your life, making you function at less than your best, then it's likely time to seek professional help. Don't put off visiting a health care provider. The sooner you visit, the sooner you can start dealing with your sleep disorder.

Related Health Issues

Sleep disorders can occur alongside other health concerns. The CDC overview of sleep and health summarizes how sleep relates to physical and mental wellbeing.

Tips for Those with Sleep Disorders

Healthy routines can support sleep, and the NHLBI healthy sleep habits provide a useful starting point. Persistent, severe, or safety-related symptoms should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

One of the best things you can do is to establish a sleep schedule, so you are going to bed and getting up at roughly the same time each night. When setting this sleep schedule, make sure you are getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep. You may need to adjust your sleep schedule several times to find the one which works best for you.

• Try a relaxing activity such as reading a book.
• Use calming scents such as lavender, chamomile, or vanilla to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.
• Avoid watching television right before going to bed. Put electronic devices away, preferably in a different room, about half an hour before heading to bed.
• Avoid snacking just before going to bed and limit your caffeine and alcohol intake to earlier in the day.

If these changes do not improve your symptoms, be sure to visit a doctor, who can help you determine an appropriate treatment plan.