Sleep Medicine: 3 Signs You Need To Visit A Sleep Clinic
Sleep medicine refers to studying, diagnosing, and treating sleep disorders. Since many people work long hours, getting a good night's sleep is essential to rejuvenate the mind and body before the next day.
However, if you suffer from a sleep disorder, chances are you don't get enough quality sleep. Hence, sleep deprivation affects your productivity at work or school. Thus, if a sleep disorder affects your ability to get a good night's sleep, you should visit a sleep clinic.
But most people don't know how to determine whether they have a sleep disorder. Hence, they never seek assistance from a sleep specialist.
Hence, here are three signs you need to visit a sleep clinic.
1. Trouble Falling or Staying Asleep (Insomnia)
Once in a while, you might have temporary insomnia due to stress. However, you should visit a sleep clinic if you have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep every night. Besides, the lack of sleep might be a symptom of chronic insomnia. Chronic insomnia usually occurs when a person has underlying issues such as:
- Restless leg syndrome (RSL)
- Hormonal or mood disorders
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Excess stress
Hence, if you are experiencing repeated insomnia every night, visit a sleep specialist. A sleep specialist can run various tests on you to determine the root cause of your insomnia and prescribe an appropriate treatment.
2. You Have EDS
EDS is an acronym for excessive daytime sleepiness. It is a condition whereby a person experiences an overwhelming urge to sleep during the day even if they slept well the previous night. Consequently, EDS is not usually associated with insomnia. However, it is one of the main symptoms of narcolepsy.
Narcolepsy is a condition whereby a person experiences daytime fatigue despite getting a good night's rest.
Hence, if you are experiencing EDS, don't hesitate to visit a sleep clinic. The main issue with EDS is that it causes people to fall asleep aimlessly. For instance, there have been cases of people with EDS dozing off while driving and causing an accident. Hence, ignoring the signs of EDS or narcolepsy can be a safety hazard.
3. You Snore Loudly
Loud snoring at night is one of the main signs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is a condition characterized by periodic pauses in breathing due to the tongue or throat muscles blocking the airway as you sleep.
Hence, it is not uncommon for a person with OSA to abruptly wake up in the middle of the night gasping for air. If you experience such a situation frequently, don't hesitate to visit a sleep clinic. Besides, the sooner a sleep specialist diagnoses your condition, the sooner you can begin treatment for the sleep disorder.
For more information, contact a local sleep clinic like Elkview General Hospital.
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