Patient Self-Assessment

Being aware of your sleep patterns and behaviors is the first step toward making improvements in the quality of your sleep. Consider the following list of questions before talking with your doctor about the possibility of being treated for a sleep disorder.¹

• Do you have difficulty falling or staying asleep?
• Do you have difficulty sleeping 3 nights a week or more?
• Do you wake up often during the night?
• Do you have chronic snoring problems?
• Do you stop breathing or gasp for breath during sleep?
• Do you feel sleepy during the day or doze off while watching television, reading, driving or participating in daily activities?
• Do you feel unpleasant, tingling, creeping feelings or nervousness in your legs when trying to sleep?
• Do you achieve less than 7 hours of sleep each night?
• Do you have regular bed and wake times?
• Do you experience nighttime heartburn, pain, or the need to urinate?
• Do you have a high level of stress or have you experienced lifestyle changes recently?
• Do you keep a rotating work schedule or work at night?

Keeping a sleep diary
One easy step you can take to gain control over your sleeplessness is to keep a sleep diary before visiting your physician. Keeping a sleep diary will help you identify patterns or conditions that might be interfering with your sleep. It only takes a minute or two each morning to complete, and records information such as the time you went to bed and when you woke up, any disturbances during the night, and total sleep time.

Keeping track of this information 2 weeks prior to your visit can help your doctor determine the best course of action for you.

Click here to download a sample sleep diary you can use to keep track of your own personal sleep patterns.

For additional
information on
sleep disorders
visit the
National Sleep Foundation»