When To Call A Professional

Call your doctor if you are worried about sleeping problems, especially if insufficient sleep or disturbed sleep is interfering with your ability to function normally during the day. Insomnia is an urgent medical problem if sleep problems are making it unsafe for you to drive a car or to perform potentially dangerous tasks at work.

Prognosis

In many people with insomnia, normal sleep patterns return within a few days, especially if a lifestyle issue (stress, a habit of heavy meals before bed, a change in time zones) disappears or is modified.

In people with chronic insomnia, the outlook depends on the underlying problem. Most sleep disorders are treatable. In patients with obstructive sleep apnea, 80% experience relief when they use a nighttime nose mask that provides modest continuous air pressure through the mouth and nose. This mask must be prescribed by a doctor.

Additional Info

National Center on Sleep Disorders Research National Institutes of Health Two Rockledge Centre Suite 10038 6701 Rockledge Dr., MSC 7920 Bethesda, MD 20892-7920 Phone: (301) 435-0199 Fax: (301) 480-3451 http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/ncsdr/