More Than a Third of Americans Skip Sleep—Here's What Doctors Say You Need to Know About Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders are conditions that disrupt your normal sleep patterns and significantly impact your daytime functioning, affecting everything from your heart health to your ability to focus at work. More than one-third of American adults report not getting enough sleep on a regular basis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These aren't just minor inconveniences—untreated sleep disorders are linked to serious health risks including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke, plus they can impair your cognitive function, mood, and immune system strength.

What Are the Most Common Sleep Disorders?

Sleep disorders come in many forms, each with distinct characteristics that affect people differently. Understanding which type you might be experiencing is the first step toward getting help. Here are the main conditions doctors diagnose:

• Insomnia: The most prevalent sleep disorder, characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early and being unable to return to sleep. It can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).
• Sleep Apnea: A serious condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common type, is caused by a blockage of the airway and often leads to loud snoring and daytime fatigue.
• Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS): Also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, RLS causes an irresistible urge to move the legs, usually accompanied by uncomfortable sensations that typically worsen in the evening or night.
• Narcolepsy: A chronic neurological condition characterized by overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sudden attacks of sleep, often accompanied by cataplexy, a sudden loss of muscle tone triggered by strong emotions.
• Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders: These occur when there is a mismatch between an individual's internal sleep-wake clock and the external environment, including conditions like jet lag disorder and shift work disorder.

How Do Doctors Diagnose Sleep Disorders?

If you suspect you have a sleep disorder, your doctor will start with a comprehensive approach. They'll ask detailed questions about your sleep patterns, daily habits, and symptoms you're experiencing. One of the most helpful tools is keeping a sleep diary for one to two weeks, which provides valuable information about your sleep schedule, bedtime routines, and any disturbances.

Beyond these initial steps, doctors use several specialized diagnostic tests to accurately identify the specific type and severity of your condition:

• Polysomnography (PSG): An overnight sleep study conducted in a sleep lab that records brain waves, eye movements, muscle activity, heart rate, breathing patterns, oxygen levels, and leg movements while you sleep. PSG is considered the gold standard for diagnosing conditions like sleep apnea and narcolepsy.
• Actigraphy: A small device worn on the wrist, similar to a watch, that records periods of activity and rest over several days or weeks to assess sleep-wake cycles and diagnose circadian rhythm disorders.
• Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT): Often performed the day after a PSG, this test measures how quickly you fall asleep during several daytime naps to help diagnose narcolepsy and evaluate the degree of daytime sleepiness.
• Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT): This test measures your ability to stay awake for a specified period in a dark, quiet room, assessing how well you can resist sleep and evaluating the effectiveness of treatment for sleep disorders.

What Causes Sleep Disorders to Develop?

Sleep problems don't happen in a vacuum. The causes are diverse and often interconnected, ranging from underlying medical conditions and certain medications to lifestyle choices and psychological factors like stress and anxiety. Understanding what's triggering your sleep issues is crucial because it helps your doctor recommend the right treatment approach tailored specifically to your situation.

The good news is that recognizing the impact of these disorders is the first step toward seeking appropriate care and improving your sleep quality. Once you've been properly diagnosed through these comprehensive evaluations, a healthcare professional can provide an accurate diagnosis and recommend an appropriate treatment plan designed for your individual needs.

Steps to Better Sleep Health

• Track Your Sleep: Keep a sleep diary for one to two weeks documenting your sleep schedule, bedtime routines, and any disturbances to help your doctor identify patterns.
• Seek Professional Evaluation: Don't wait—if you're experiencing persistent sleep problems, schedule an appointment with your doctor who can perform a thorough medical history and physical examination.
• Consider Diagnostic Testing: If recommended by your healthcare provider, undergo appropriate sleep studies like polysomnography or actigraphy to get an accurate diagnosis of your specific condition.
• Follow Your Treatment Plan: Once diagnosed, work closely with your healthcare team to implement the treatment approach designed for your particular sleep disorder, whether that involves behavioral changes, medication, or devices like CPAP machines.

The widespread nature of sleep disorders—affecting more than one-third of American adults—means you're not alone in struggling with sleep. The key is taking action rather than accepting poor sleep as inevitable. With proper diagnosis and treatment, most people can significantly improve their sleep quality and reduce their risk of serious health complications.