Sleep is important for many different reasons. Getting enough sleep every night can improve your productivity and concentration, lower your risk to weight gain, and boost your athletic performance. Sleep is also vital for your social and emotional intelligence, immune system, and preventing depression.
It’ll be challenging for anyone to live a healthy life if they don’t get enough sleep, but there are some people who struggle to get some shuteye every night regardless of how hard they try. If you often see yourself in this kind of situation and aren’t getting a good night’s sleep, consider seeing a sleep specialist.
What Is A Sleep Specialist?
As the name suggests, a sleep specialist is a healthcare professional who works by improving your sleep health. A sleep specialist also has the necessary experience and equipment to diagnose and treat countless sleep disorders.
Some people also tag a sleep specialist as a sleep apnea doctor as they can also give explanations for and prepare equipment in treating sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious sleeping disorder that affects 22 million Americans and can increase a person’s susceptibility to high blood pressure, heart failure, and depression.
Why Should You See A Sleep Specialist?
There are many reasons why people find it hard to sleep at night. While this can usually happen because of the environment or stress, others lose sleep because of underlying health conditions.
If you’ve been deprived of sleep and you don’t have any idea what causes the problem, a sleep specialist can help. In fact, listed below are four reasons why you should definitely see one as soon as possible:
- You Suspect You Have A Sleeping Disorder
If you’re suffering from a sleep disorder, and you’re having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, then you should definitely see a sleep specialist. Sleeping disorders require the help of a professional for their diagnosis and treatment, which can’t be achieved by DIY solutions.
There are many types of sleeping disorders today, but the most common ones are:
- Insomnia: This sleeping disorder is characterized by the inability to fall or stay asleep. Insomnia can be caused by several factors, such as anxiety, stress, hormones, and digestive problems.
- Sleep apnea: People with sleep apnea have the ability to fall asleep, but are often interrupted because their breathing pauses during their sleep. This happens because their airways are blocked, causing the airflow in their bodies to stop.
- Parasomnias: This class of sleeping disorder cause abnormal behaviors or movements during sleep, such as sleepwalking, sleep talking, groaning, and teeth grinding.
Over time, sleeping disorders can worsen and cause more severe symptoms. Having said that, if you suspect that you’re suffering from any sleeping disorder or experiencing some of the symptoms mentioned above, it’s best if you consult a sleep specialist as soon as possible.
- You Experience Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
Feeling sleepy in the middle of the day is typical for human beings. Regardless of how laidback or rigorous, your daily routine is, there will be times when you’ll have to take naps to regain your energy or improve your mental focus. However, if you are feeling sleepy almost every single day, you might be experiencing more serious sleep-related problems.
Excessive daytime sleepiness or EDS is a cause for concern because this can take a toll on your productivity and relationships. How can you impress your boss at work if you’re always sleepy during your working hours? Do you think you can last through a lunch date if you’re too tired? EDS can also cause you to become more irritable and suffer from sudden mood swings.
If you experience the symptoms of EDS, schedule a session with a sleep specialist right away. They can properly diagnose the problem and provide solutions to ensure that you can get enough sleep every night, and improve your productivity during the day. - You Experience Loss Of Muscle Control And Movement When You’re Awake
The quality of your sleep affects your life in many ways, which is why you should pay attention to what your body is telling you even when you’re awake. Aside from finding it hard to sleep or experiencing disruptions during your sleep, experiencing loss of muscle control and movement when you’re awake is also a reason why you should see a sleep specialist.
Experiencing sudden and frequent loss of muscle control and movement is one of the most common signs of narcolepsy. When left untreated, this health condition can cause sleep paralysis and hallucinations.
By seeing a sleep specialist, you’ll be able to better understand what narcolepsy is and how it can affect your sleep health. Narcolepsy is a lifelong problem, which means that you’ll have to find ways to manage its symptoms for you to get some sleep again. - You’re Sleeping Too Much
Sleep is essential to your overall health, but sleeping too much can also have adverse effects. Sleeping too much on a regular basis can increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and even death. Too much sleep is defined as having slept for more than nine hours in a day.
If you often see yourself sleeping longer than the recommended amount, be wary as this can eventually take a toll on your health. If your sleeping pattern still doesn’t improve even after you’ve exerted a lot of effort, it might be best to see a sleep specialist. They have years of experience in treating countless sleep problems, which means that they can recommend solutions to ensure that you’re only getting the right amount of sleep regularly—no more, no less.
Ask For Recommendations
You’ll be able to find several sleep specialists offering various services in different parts of the globe today. Regardless of your location or the gravity of your sleeping disorder, you’ll be able to find a professional who can help improve the quality and duration of your sleep.
If you’re convinced that seeing a sleep specialist can do wonders to your sleep and overall health, you should start asking for recommendations from your doctor or other local healthcare professionals. They can provide names of reliable sleep specialists in the industry.
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