Sleep disorders

Need to know

• What are the symptoms of sleep disorders? icon plus

  It is recommended that adults should get at least eight hours of good quality sleep a night. If you have a sleep disorder, you may suffer from fatigue, irritability and poor mental function.
  
  Sleep disorders can have an adverse affect on your overall health, mental well being, safety and quality of life, and affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.
  
  You may also be at risk of developing conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
  
  The most common symptoms of sleep disorders are:

  • Having trouble falling or staying asleep
  • Regularly feeling tired (fatigued) during the day
  • Having a strong urge to take naps
  • Poor concentration

• How is a sleep disorder diagnosed? icon plus

  Your GP or consultant will discuss your symptoms with you. Tests they may recommend include:

  • Filling out an Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaire
  • Attending a specialist sleep clinic to assess the problems that you are having
  • Respiratory sleep study also known as overnight oximetry (to monitor your breathing, blood oxygen levels and heart rate)
  • Polysomnography (a sleep study that records your brain waves, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, breathing and eye and leg movements)
  • Electroencephalogram (EEG) to monitor brainwaves

• Potential treatment options icon plus

  Treatment options for your sleep disorder depend on the nature of your condition.
  
  Treatment options that your GP or consultant may recommend include:

  • Counselling such as cognitive-behaviour-therapy (CBT) to help you better manage unhelpful thoughts and habits relating to sleep
  • Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, where a machine and mask are used to deliver lightly pressurised air that helps to keep your airways open
  • Medicines to help you sleep (sleeping pills)