There are about 80 recognized sleep disorders, Moscovitch says. For a diagnosis, a sleep expert will take patients' complete medical and psychiatric history, and ask them to provide a diary of sleep and daytime performance over at least three days, says Fleming. In other cases, such as sleep apnea, an overnight stay at a sleep lab may be necessary. They often have a headache and feel groggy in the morning, and fall asleep easily in the daytime. Bradley is director of the Centre for Sleep and Chronobiology and a professor of medicine at the University of Toronto.
Sleep apnea is a medical disorder that can be prevented in many cases.
The first recommended treatment for sleep apnea is weight loss, says Bradley. Other treatment options are also available. This involves wearing a mask to bed as a pump creates air pressure and blows the throat open. As with many sleep disorders, sleep apnea is underdiagnosed. In fact, some people may be getting treatment for high blood pressure, not realizing that sleep apnea is the cause.