Diagnosis of this sleep disorder is made by a physician. Doctor’s conclusion is based on the patient reported signs and symptoms. The physician replies on the person’s report of a problem falling or remaining asleep. Also he or she will ask you about your medical history and provide a physical exam.
Questions that are usually asked:
- What is your mood?
- Have you noticed any physical or mental symptoms or problems?
- Tell me about your daily activities.
- Tell me about your sleep patterns.
- What is your psychiatric and medical history?
- Tell me about your eating habits.
- How often do you take tobacco, alcohol, or any other drugs?
Physician may ask you to fill out a sleep diary, where you‘ll have to record your sleep patterns. Your doctor may want to interview your bed partner in order to find out the quantity and quality of your sleep. Some other specialized tests may be performed depending on what your health care provider suspects may be the cause of your insomnia.
It is very important for your health care provider to know about your eating habits. It has been proved that people who eat before going to bed may suffer from insomnia. Changes in the person’s eating habits may cure the insomnia.
People with chronic insomnia may need supplementary medical help. Some physicians specialize in sleep disorders. They can perform supplementary tests and suggest treatment for more serious cases.
Multiply Sleep Latency Test
MSLT uses a machine to count out the time to fall asleep while lying in a quiet room during the day:
- The patient takes 4 or 5 scheduled naps two hours apart.
- People with natural sleep habits fall asleep in about 10-20 minutes.
- This test can find changes in sleepiness associated with sleep loss in patients with insomnia.
MSLT has limitations and doesn’t take into consideration any situations that may affect the patients’ mental state and the true home situation. This test is usually used after other sleep disorders have been cut out and the physician is unsure whether or not insomnia is an exact diagnosis.
Risk factors that increase chances of insomnia:
- age:50 or older
- stress
- sex: female; especially after or during menopause
- chronic pain
- mental disorders such as depression and anxiety
- shift work
- using of tobacco, alcohol, or any other drugs
- obesity
| 
