If you are suffering from chronic insomnia, it can be a devastating condition that affects your life and relationships. You may find yourself tired, unable to concentrate or focus at work, experiencing anxiety or depression as well as irritability. If you have been diagnosed with an underlying sleep disorder such as narcolepsy or restless legs syndrome (RLS), then you must seek help from a specialist immediately.
But what if your doctor isn’t sure whether or not there is a problem? What if they don’t think there’s anything wrong with your sleep patterns? What do you do then? Well, that’s where our guide comes in! Here are some of the most common reasons why people visit a sleep clinic and how this can help them understand their condition better so they can get back on track with their treatment plan!
You have been diagnosed with a sleep disorder
If you have been diagnosed with a sleep disorder, you know the symptoms that can make it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up feeling refreshed. You might also experience daytime drowsiness or other issues that affect your ability to function day-to-day.
If you don’t think your problems are related to poor sleeping habits or stress levels but still feel as though something is missing from your life, then visiting a sleep clinic may be worthwhile. Sleep disorders can cause health problems such as heart disease and diabetes so if something isn’t right in terms of how well we’re able to function throughout our daily lives then there could be some underlying issue at play here which needs attention before any serious damage is done!
You suffer from chronic and recurring insomnia
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can cause you to feel tired and emotionally drained during the day. It’s defined as having trouble sleeping, even when you’re well-rested. Insomnia may be caused by stress, anxiety, depression, or other medical conditions and can be treated with medication or therapy depending on its severity.
If you’ve been diagnosed with chronic insomnia recently (within the last six months), it’s important to find out why your body feels so tired at night so that you can find an effective solution for this condition before it becomes chronic.
You snore loudly or witness another person stop breathing during sleep.
Snoring is a common problem that can occur when you sleep. It means your airways are partially or completely blocked, which causes the noise you hear when you breathe in and out during the night.
Sleep apnea is another type of snoring, but it’s much more serious than snoring alone because it can cause many health problems. With sleep apnea, your brain doesn’t get enough oxygen while you’re asleep and this lack of oxygen makes breathing harder for other parts of your body:
- Heart rate slows down
- Blood pressure drops sharply (this leads to more heart attacks)
- Brain cells die faster than normal
You often wake up feeling drowsy or exhausted
If you often wake up feeling drowsy or exhausted, it’s time to look into your sleep habits. You may be suffering from a host of problems that can be fixed with a visit to a sleep clinic.
Lack of quality sleep can lead to daytime fatigue and moodiness, as well as other health issues such as weight gain or depression. This is why people are advised not just how much they should be sleeping but also how long each night they should spend in bed (and what kind). Some people find that they need nine hours while others only need six or seven hours each night. If you’re unsure about what your ideal amount is, talk with your doctor about it!
You are constantly sleepy during the day or fall asleep at unusual times, such as while working, talking, or eating
You have trouble falling asleep at night and wake up feeling tired but unable to get back to sleep once you’ve woken up in the morning. You have difficulty keeping your eyes open during conversation and find yourself yawning repeatedly throughout conversations with others; this also happens when reading text messages on your phone or computer screen.
If you’re still reading this post after waking up from a nap today – congratulations! At least one reason why we should go see our doctor about getting better sleep habits is that there’s no shame in needing help with something we all experience from time to time: lack of restful slumber coupled with erratic sleep schedules which disrupt our circadian rhythms – aka “jetlag.”
Naps do not alleviate the daytime sleepiness you feel
Naps are not a substitute for a good night’s sleep. A nap should be no longer than 30 minutes and should be taken in the middle of the day, ideally within 3 hours after your last meal. If you nap for longer than 30 minutes, you may not be able to fall asleep at night because your body will have been deprived of adequate rest time during that period.
Your doctor thinks you might have a sleep disorder
If you think that your doctor might be suggesting a sleep study because they suspect you have a sleep disorder, it’s probably because they do. Sleep disorders can range from mild to severe, and there are different types of disorders that affect how we sleep in different ways. For example:
- A narcolepsy is an extreme form of daytime drowsiness associated with excessive daytime somnolence (sleepiness). In this condition, the brain doesn’t produce enough melatonin or other chemicals needed for normal sleeping patterns; therefore, patients remain awake during their normal wake hours despite being asleep at night.
They also may experience hallucinations while awake and may fall into cataplexy (a sudden loss of muscle tone) upon feeling an emotion such as anger or surprise often causing them to collapse abruptly onto the floor upon hearing something upsetting.
- Sleep apnea occurs when breathing stops briefly during sleep due to shallow breathing or reduced airflow through the nasal passage due to soft tissue collapse around its base.
- Circadian rhythm disorders refer specifically here but could also apply if someone has any irregularity in their circadian rhythmicity basically, their sleeping cycle isn’t quite working correctly.
Your bed partner notices you have restless legs at night.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder that causes you to have an irresistible urge to move your legs.
The symptoms of restless legs syndrome include:
- The sensation of itchiness in the skin or muscles around the affected area;
- Pain when trying not to move (this can be intense); and/or
- A feeling of discomfort while laying down or sitting up straight.
Sleep clinics can help diagnose and treat sleep disorders
Sleep clinics can help diagnose and treat sleep disorders. Sleep doctors are specially trained to recognize the signs of a disorder, including:
- Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- Frequent awakenings during the night, which may be followed by daytime fatigue and irritability
- Daytime naps that last longer than 30 minutes
Sleep clinics offer an environment that is safe for testing because they have staff on hand who can answer questions about any symptoms you’re experiencing while also providing helpful advice on how they might improve your quality of life.
If you visit a sleep clinic and are diagnosed with an issue like insomnia, it’s important to know what steps you can take to address those issues to get back on track with good restful sleep habits!
Conclusion
If you think you may have a sleep disorder, it is important to visit a sleep clinic. Sleep clinics are staffed by professional doctors who can diagnose and treat these conditions in the comfort of your own home.