Knowing whether you have a sleeping disorder is difficult to find out by yourself. However, it is important to find out if you are suffering from one in order to help yourself get better sleep and become more functional during the day. One sure way to find out is through a sleep disorder test.
Importance of the Test
We don’t know what goes on in our own bodies while we are sleeping. Most people can end up suffering from a sleep disorder without even knowing it. What we therefore need is a good sleep disorder test to help us find out and remedy it.
There are several types of sleeping disorders but the most common ones are insomnia, narcolepsy and sleep apnea. All these sleeping disorder conditions can be fatal and it is believed that at least 1 out of 3 Americans suffer from a sleep disorder of some sort. At the least, undiagnosed sleep disorders could affect your quality of life, making you less able to interact productively with others and perform even simple tasks. The physical stress and drain of a sleep disorder could also be psychologically damaging, leading to feelings of intense frustration and helplessness. At the worst, a sleep disorder could either be a sign of an underlying medical condition or could lead to more serious medical conditions like stroke and heart ailments.
Self Test
Even if you are not aware of what goes on as you sleep, you can still do a self sleep disorder test. What you need to do is simply to take a look a list of symptoms as a basic sleep disorder test. You should be worried for example if you wake up and don’t feel refreshed, if you have trouble sleeping or if you wake up frequently at night or too early.
You may also notice changes in your own personality and performance. Irritability, lack of coordination and lack of concentration are points to note in your own sleep disorder test. Take note too if you frequently meet accidents and if you feel sleepy during the day.
Self-Testing Products
If you have insomnia, you can easily find a sleep disorder test pack that can measure your hormone levels. The hormone melatonin is what you should look into in a saliva sleep disorder test. Melatonin is a naturally occurring substance in the body that manages a person’s perception of night and day and the cycle of sleep and wakefulness. Some people with insomnia though may have lower levels of melatonin. A sleep disorder test that will check you melatonin levels will help you determine if you need to take added melatonin supplements that are available even without a prescription.
Professional Test
A professional on sleep disorder or a doctor can also help you if you are unsure about your symptoms. There are many kinds of tests but the most common professional sleep disorder test involves a sleep study.
In a sleep study, an individual may be asked to stay in a clinic or hospital for a number of hours depending on whether your day or night sleep patterns are being checked. Several wires will them be attached to the patient to monitor brainwaves, heart rate and breathing. Qualified personnel will then score your results for your doctor to interpret. Your doctor will then provide you with the necessary treatment for your condition. A succeeding sleep test may be conducted to determine the effectiveness of the treatment.