1. Recognize Symptoms of Sleep Problems
Sleep problems can be diagnosed by recognizing and identifying a set of specific symptoms. Daytime fatigue is an obvious symptom and is almost universal for sleep disorders. Each sleep disorder, however, has its own unique set of symptoms. Insomnia, for example, is characterized by extreme difficulty falling asleep, even when you are fatigued. Sleep apnea features snoring and general difficulty breathing during sleep. Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that can be identified by a tremendous level of fatigue during the day and the loss of motor control, even with adequate sleep at night. Restless-leg syndrome is a sleep disorder that causes an uncontrollable urge to move your leg or legs once you're in bed as well as intense tingling feelings on the skin of your legs.
2. Undergo a Sleep Study
Doctors commonly ask sleep disorder patients to undergo sleep studies, or polysomnograms, in order to diagnose the sleep disorders they have. Sleep studies are conducted in controlled environments to ensure accurate results and are sometimes done over the course of at least two nights. Polysomnograms are most often used to diagnose sleep apnea, but they can be used to detect shift-work disorders and circadian-rhythm disorders as well.
3. Examine Underlying Causes
Sometimes in diagnosing a sleep disorder, your doctor will talk to you about possible underlying causes. Depression is one of the most common causes of sleep disorders, with a large number of insomniacs reporting symptoms of depression. Sleep apnea is typically caused by an individual's weight, which can affect his breathing. Restless-leg syndrome can be the result of diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, iron deficiency, varicose veins and even thyroid problems. Regardless of the cause, it is often possible to treat sleep problems by treating the underlying causes in addition to the actual sleep disorder.
