There are a number of reasons you might consider seeing a sleep medicine specialist to uncover what is going on with your health. If you snore loudly at night, or you wake up in the morning without feeling refreshed, it is possible that you have a sleep disorder that can be addressed. You might have restless leg syndrome that prevents you from getting a good night's sleep, or obstructive sleep apnea that deprives you of a restful night's sleep. If you have trouble falling asleep, or you aren't able to sleep through the night, a sleep medicine provider can help determine what is going on to disrupt your sleep patterns.

Restless Leg Syndrome and Sleep

Restless leg syndrome can occur at any age but tends to be more common as you get older. While there is no specific cause for restless leg syndrome, it is an identified disorder that can be bad enough that it disrupts your sleep at night. If you are lying in bed trying to sleep, and you constantly feel the need to move your legs, this is likely restless leg syndrome. High stress levels can play a role in restless leg syndrome, and a lack of sleep can make it worse.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Snoring

If you snore loudly at night, this is because your airway has muscles that are too relaxed while you are sleeping. Sleep testing can determine if your snoring is obstructive sleep apnea and causing you to feel fatigued during the day. When you have obstructive sleep apnea, your airway closes completely for an instant, prompting you to startle awake. You may not know that you are startling awake, as you quickly fall back into a rhythm. Your oxygen levels can go down when this occurs, and you will be unable to reach restorative sleep patterns.

If You Are Always Tired

Your sleep medicine provider will want to assess your condition to rule out iron deficiency, blood sugar issues, or poor sleep patterns if you are always tired. A sleep disorder may only be part of your health issue or could be the only reason you are experiencing exhaustion throughout the day.

Sleep medicine can determine the severity of restless leg syndrome if you have obstructive sleep apnea and if you have any other issues that are impeding your ability to get a good night's sleep. Work with a sleep medicine provider if you are always tired and not sure what is going on.