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Do You Have a Sleep Disorder?
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.
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
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