Why Consult a Specialized Sleep Clinic

Some common symptoms arise from lack of sleep, or Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS): irritability and uneven moods, loss of motivation, inability to concentrate, memory lapses, clumsiness, increased appetite, sugar cravings and of course, general fatigue. If you feel these symptoms on a regular basis, there are a few steps to take before consulting a sleep clinic.

It is important to practice good sleep habits. Spend some time maintaining a consistent sleep schedule. Avoid going to bed hungry or dehydrated, also make sure you haven’t drank any coffee in the hours leading up to bedtime. The same goes for alcohol, as it interferes with the Rapid Eye Movement stage of the sleep cycle, disrupting the quality of your rest. Turn off screens an hour before bed, as their light reduces your melatonin levels. So, drop your phone, turn off the computer and give Netflix a rest, it will help you get one too.

If you find yourself struggling with sleeping or experience daytime sleepiness despite your good sleep habits, you may have one of many sleep disorders, and that is where a sleep clinic comes in.

 

What Next Then?

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness can be caused by a variety of sleep disorders. The bad news is that disorders like Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Narcolepsy and Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) are quite common and tend to be underdiagnosed because many symptoms occur during sleep, when you aren’t aware of them. The good news is they can be diagnosed, then treated or medicated, and at Clinique Sommeil et Santé sleep clinic, we do just that.

 

Before seeing a doctor, consider taking note of how much sleep you manage to get, and any details you may be aware of. It is worth paying attention to if your sleep is frequently interrupted overnight, and if you sleep with a partner, ask them if you snore or seem to breathe irregularly while sleeping. Proper polysomnographic sleep tests require a prescription, and these are all questions your physician is likely to ask you. With this information, your medical record, and their own exam, your physician will determine if you are likely to be suffering from a sleep disorder and if our sleep clinic is right for you.

 

From there, it will be up to us to get you on the way to feeling refreshed in the morning once again. It is our mission and priority to provide quick and accurate lab results along with reliable therapeutic services.