Indications of Sleep Disorders

Symptoms of sleep disorders include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Trouble falling or staying asleep
• Irritability
• Loud snoring
• Morning headaches
• Depression, reduced sense of well-being
• Forgetfulness
• Lack of energy and motivation
• Leg cramps or continuous, uncontrollable urge to move legs
• Impotence
• Anxiety
• Difficulty learning or concentrating
• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• Awakening with a choking feeling or gasping for air
• Racing heartbeat during the night
• Pauses in breathing during the night
• Restlessness while sleeping
• Nighttime sweating
• Frequent awakenings
• Loss of muscle control associated with strong emotion, such as while laughing or angry

Symptoms are often reported not by the patient, but by his or her bed partner.

If you or someone you know has any of these symptoms regularly, talk to your family doctor or healthcare provider. An overnight sleep study (polysomnogram) may be warranted to make an accurate diagnosis.