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How to identify a sleep disorder

Q. How can I tell if I have a sleep disorder? A. There is no substitute for a good night's rest.

    by Ajay Pillai, M.D., For The Inquirer
    Published 

Q. How can I tell if I have a sleep disorder?

A. There is no substitute for a good night's rest.

Yet more than one quarter of the population report occasionally not getting enough sleep, and nearly 10 percent have chronic insomnia, according to federal surveys. Sleep needs vary. But seven to eight hours a day is recommended for adults, including the elderly.

A sleep disorder is characterized by a disruption in the amount or quality of sleep, or by behavioral/psychological conditions associated with sleep. The problem must be consistent to meet diagnostic criteria.

Insufficient sleep is often associated with delayed reactions that can lead to such issues as car accidents.

Some warning signs:

  1. If you are tired despite a full night's sleep, something may be preventing your body from entering its normal sleep cycle.

  2. Snoring could be a sign of sleep apnea.

  3. Falling asleep while reading or driving could indicate you are not getting enough sleep.

  4. If you have trouble falling or staying asleep for at least a month, you may have insomnia.

If you experience any of the above every day, speak with your doctor. He or she will check your history and may identify an appropriate sleep test. For example, your doctor will ask you for detailed information about your sleep patterns, such as when you go to bed, how quickly you fall asleep, and how long you stay asleep.

There are quite a few sleep study options, including in-lab as well as home sleep tests. These may involve the monitoring of your brain activity using an electroencephalogram (EEG), determining the phases of sleep you enter and noninvasively measuring blood oxygen levels while you sleep.

Treatment options depend on your personal condition. If you have trouble falling or staying asleep, or fall asleep inadvertently during the day, speak with your doctor immediately.

- Ajay Pillai, M.D., pulmonologist and sleep physician at Mercy Fitzgerald and Mercy Philadelphia Hospitals