Sleep is essential for our physical and mental health, yet many of us struggle to get enough quality sleep. Insomnia and sleep apnea are two common sleep disorders that can disrupt your sleep and leave you feeling tired and unrefreshed. If you’re struggling to sleep, it’s important to seek help to improve your sleep quality and overall health. To help you identify if you may be experiencing insomnia or sleep apnea, we’ve created two checklists. These checklists are not intended to replace a professional diagnosis, but can serve as a useful starting point to discuss your concerns with a healthcare professional.
Insomnia Checklist:
☐ Find it hard to go to sleep
☐ Wake up several times during the night
☐ Lie awake at night
☐ Wake up early and can’t get back to sleep
☐ Still feel tired after waking up
☐ Find it hard to nap during the day even though I’m tired
☐ Feel tired and irritable during the day
☐ Find it difficult to concentrate during the day because I’m tired
If you’ve ticked off several of these symptoms, it may be worth discussing your sleep with a healthcare professional. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the recommended treatment for both short-term and chronic insomnia. Unlike medication, CBT-I addresses the underlying causes of insomnia and has benefits for wellbeing beyond medication.
Sleep Apnea Checklist:
☐ Loud snoring
☐ Gasping or choking during sleep
☐ Pauses in breathing during sleep
☐ Waking up feeling unrefreshed
☐ Daytime sleepiness
☐ Morning headaches
☐ Difficulty concentrating
☐ Irritability or mood changes
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that can have long-term health consequences if left untreated. If you’ve ticked off several of these symptoms, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional. Diagnosis usually involves a sleep study, and treatment may include lifestyle changes, such as weight loss and sleep position changes, or the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine.
If you’re experiencing sleep difficulties, don’t suffer in silence. The International Sleep Disorder Center (ISD) offers free sleep health consultations with sleep specialists. These consultations can help you identify the underlying causes of your sleep difficulties and develop a personalized treatment plan to improve your sleep and overall health. Click here to book your free consultation.
Remember, quality sleep is essential for your health and well-being. By taking steps to improve your sleep, you’ll not only feel better, but you’ll also reduce your risk of long-term health problems associated with sleep disorders.