Sleep Medicine Associates, P.C.
Do You Have a Sleep Disorder?

Have you wondered whether you, or someone you know has a sleep disorder? "Yes" answers to the following questions can help you evaluate your sleep health, and determine whether you might have one of the more common sleep problems that should be investigated further.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea:
Findings or symptoms seen frequently with this disorder:
  • Do you snore loudly?
  • Has a bed partner noticed stop breathing events, or gasping during sleep?
  • Do you feel worn out or tired when you wake up from a night of sleep?
  • Are you sleepy during the day?

Findings or symptoms sometimes suggesting this disorder:

  • Do you frequently wake up with headaches?
  • Do you perspire, or sweat during sleep in a room in which the temperature is comfortable?
  • Do you wake up frequently at night to urinate?
  • Do you wake up with reflux symptoms, or heartburn?
  • Do you have difficulty concentrating, or have worsening of memory?
  • Do you have difficulty staying asleep, and are restless during sleep?
  • Do you have sexual dysfunction?
  • Do you have high blood pressure?

Individuals vary in how they are affected by sleep apnea, and some may have very few noticeable symptoms even when they have severe sleep apnea.

Insomnia
  • Does it regularly take longer than 1 hour to fall asleep at night?
  • Do you get frustrated, or anxious about not being able to sleep at night?
  • Do you wake up at night and can’t fall back to sleep?
  • Are you able to fall asleep on the couch, but can’t sleep when you go to your room?
Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
  • Do your legs feel restless, especially before bedtime, making it difficult to keep them still?
  • Do you get a creepy or crawly sensation in your legs when sitting still, or at bedtime, that's relieved by getting up and walking?
  • Do your legs move or jerk involuntarily in the evenings?
  • Have you been observed to kick your legs during sleep?
Narcolepsy
  • Do you have episodes of uncontrollable sleepiness that improve with a short nap?
  • Do you ever feel as though you are paralyzed as you fall asleep, or upon awakening?
  • Do you experience episodes of muscular weakness brought on by sudden emotion such as laughter, or anger?
  • Do you have difficulty staying asleep at night with periods of wakefulness?


The Epworth Sleepiness Scale

This tool was developed to help measure daytime sleepiness. Higher scores are associated with more sleepiness. The highest score possible is 24. Scores > 15 are increasingly likely to be associated with a sleep problem, though lower scores do not mean that a sleep problem is not present. Calculate my Epworth Sleepiness Scale score.

Getting Help

If you suspect that yourself, or someone you know, may have a sleep disorder, help is available from the caring and professional staff at Sleep Medicine Associates, P.C., and the Southwestern Indiana Sleep Disorders Center.

For further information, or to make an appointment, call 812-473-1737 Monday – Friday, 8am-5pm. A physician’s referral is not necessary to be evaluated unless a referral is required by your insurance. The offices of Sleep Medicine Associates, P.C. are located in Evansville, Indiana, at 445 Cross Pointe Boulevard, Suite 230, just off the Lloyd Expressway near I-164.