So You Have a Sleep Disorder… Resources for Getting the Sleep You Need

There is no question that not getting enough sleep can have real repercussions in your life.  Being overtired or fatigued increases the risk of being in a motor vehicle accident, decreases productivity at work or school, impacts personal relationships, and can be very detrimental to your physical and mental health.  The quick answer to this public health problem is for everyone to get more sleep.  But if you are among the 50-70 million people the Centers for Disease Control estimates are affected by sleep disorders, getting more sleep may require more than an earlier bed time.

The first step to getting the sleep you need to be healthy is to get a diagnosis.  Most people begin this process by meeting with their regular doctor to discuss the problems they are having with sleep.  A diagnosis may be made by that doctor or by a sleep doctor after additional testing is conducted.  Having the diagnosis enables you to find the strategies, resources, and treatment options that will help you manage your disorder and get the amount of sleep you need.

Here are helpful resources related to sleep disorders in general and for each of the most common sleep disorders.

 

Sleep Disorders – General Information

• National Sleep Foundation (NSF) – Provides a broad range of information and resources related to sleep disorders and other issues related to sleep
• Centers for Disease Control – Key Sleep Disorders – Provides an overview of each of the four major sleep disorders
• National Center on Sleep Disorders Research from the National Institutes of Health – Provides access to research information on sleep disorders
• Sleep Disorders from Medline Plus provided by the National Library of Medicine  – Provides access to a variety of information related to the disorder including links to other government sponsored information

 

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Sleep from the National Sleep Foundation – Provides information on the sleep disorder including symptoms, causes, treatments, and outcomes.
• American Sleep Apnea Association – Provides information about the disorder, treatment options, community support, and other information related to the disorder.
• Sleep Apnea from Medline Plus provided by the National Library of Medicine – Provides access to a variety of information related to the disorder including links to other government sponsored information
• What is Sleep Apnea? From the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute  – Information on the disorder from the division of the National Institutes of Health responsible for researching it.

 

Insomnia

• Insomnia from the National Sleep Foundation  – Separate site provided by the National Sleep Foundation dedicated to information about insomnia
• What is Insomnia? From the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute – Information on the disorder from the division of the National Institutes of Health responsible for researching it.
• Insomnia from the Mayo Clinic – Overview of the disorder including symptoms, causes, and treatment options.
• Insomnia from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine – Broad range of information on the disorder including prevalence, types, risk factors, etc.

 

Narcolepsy

• Narcolepsy and Sleep from the National Sleep Foundation – Provides information on the sleep disorder including symptoms, causes, treatments, and outcomes.
• Narcolepsy Fact Sheet from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke – Overview of the disorder including symptoms, causes, and treatments.
• Narcolepsy from the Mayo Clinic – Provides an overview of the disorder including symptoms, diagnosis, causes, and treatment.
• Center for Narcolepsy at Stanford University – Provides information on research into the condition, resources for those with the disorder, and other information related to it.

 

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)

• Restless Leg Syndrome from the National Sleep Foundation – Provides information on the sleep disorder including symptoms, causes, treatments, and outcomes.
• Restless Leg Syndrome Fact Sheet from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke – Overview of the disorder including symptoms, causes, and treatments.
• Restless Leg Syndrome Foundation – Provides educational information, support, and community links related to the disorder.
• Center for Restless Leg Syndrome at Johns Hopkins University – Provides information on research being done on the disorder and access to resources for those with the condition.