What can be Diagnosed and Treated?

OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA (OSA) – a condition characterised by choking and a cessation of breathing for as long as two minutes. Common symptoms include loud snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness.

SNORING – though usually nothing more than an annoyance, repetitive or loud snoring can be a sign of OSA.

CHRONIC INSOMNIA – an inability to fall sleep or stay asleep for a period of two weeks or more. This is often caused by a psychiatric problem or an underlying medical condition such as sleep apnea, periodic limb movements or the misuse of sleeping pills.

NARCOLEPSY – a serious disorder that causes a person to fall asleep without warning, at inappropriate times many times a day. It can often come as a result of becoming angry, or surprised.

RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME (RLS) – a condition characterised by voluntary leg movements in response to uncomfortable “tingling” sensations in one or both legs. The symptoms are felt mostly at night, making sleep more difficult. Relief is found by moving the legs.

PERIODIC LIMB MOVEMENT DISORDER (PLMD) – similar to RLS, PLMD also affects the limb. While RLS movements are a voluntary response to unpleasant sensations in the limbs whilst awake, the movements of PLMD are involuntary and felt most when the sufferer is asleep. PLMD is often accompanied by OSA, narcolepsy, insomnia and RLS.

WORK-SHIFT CHANGE SYNDROME – irregular work-shift hours often lead to sleep deprivation and insomnia, negatively affecting a person’s ability to concentrate and perform.

SLEEPWALKING – behaviour that causes a person to subconsciously get out of bed and walk around.

NOCTURNAL SEIZURES – abnormal movements during sleep that can often be due to treatable epileptic seizures.

What Must I Do to Get Help?