If you’ve been suffering from a condition affecting your sleep for more then a few weeks, you’re probably ready to take your condition to the doctor’s office.  For short-term sleep problems, sleeping pills and self care can be effective, but with sleep problems lasting longer than a month, it’s more likely you will need professional help.

Doctors help millions of Americans annually with a range of sleep problems known as ‘sleep disorders’.  These include generalized problems like either early-rising or intermittent insomnia, or respiratory problems like sleep apnea, as well as sleep problems arising from psychological or neurological conditions.

If a family doctor can’t do the job themselves, they might refer a patient to specialists for these kinds of conditions:

•  psychological sleep disorders – a psychologist or psychiatrist can provide various therapies for reducing stress and allowing the body to relax, leading to more peaceful sleep
•  respiratory or physiological sleep disorders -  an otolaryngologist (ear nose and throat doctor) can help with snoring-related problems, and dentists can help with sleep issues like bruxism (grinding teeth)
•  neurological or large-scale sleep disorders – a neurologist can help appraise the nervous system, and pulmonologists will look at the roles of breathing in sleep disorders

There are also specialized sleep centers across the country that deal routinely with sleep disorders: these facilities share specialized information taken from large-scale sleep studies to find solutions for patients with tricky sleep disorders.

Centers accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) are premier locations for helping deal with chronic sleep issues.

Sleep Disorders: Self-Analysis

Doctors rely on patients to provide their own details about symptoms.  A ‘sleep notebook’ is a handy tool for reporting to sleep specialists.  Some of the points detailed in a sleep notebook include:

•  times of day or night a patient attempted to go to sleep how long it took the patient to fall asleep on average
•  sleep disturbances (number of times per night, known or guessed causes, length of time awake)
•  length of uninterrupted sleep per night
•  naps or resting times during the day
•  specific stressors in each day

A patient may also detail what they ate and drank during the day, with particular attention to any caffeinated foods or beverages.
For self-care as opposed to medications, doctors may recommend certain diets or activities to lead toward a good night of sleep.  All of this will be on a case by case basis, so if you are experiencing sleep difficulties, ask your doctor about your fitness regimen and how to tailor it to your needs.  Doctors may recommend an abbreviated workout schedule, or shifting workouts to a time earlier in the day.  Make attempts to fit every part of your life into treatment for a sleep condition that can sap your energy and ultimately have a negative affect on your general health.