Do You Have a Sleep Disorder?

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By Linda Wasmer Andrews

For your heart, brain, muscles, and mood, a good night’s sleep is good medicine. If you’re having trouble sleeping, check out these clues that signal a sleep disorder.

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Sleep Disorder Clue 1: Irregular Sleep Patterns

One way to tell if you might have a sleep disorder is by keeping a sleep diary for one or two weeks.

Record in your sleep diary:

• How long it takes to fall asleep
• How often you wake during the night
• The total number of hours you spend sleeping
• How wide awake you feel the next morning
• If you’ve taken any naps or had daytime drowsiness

Talk to your doctor if you:

• Consistently take more than 30 minutes to fall asleep
• Awaken more than a few times or for long periods during the night
• Often nap, feel sleepy during the day, or nod off at inappropriate times