Quick answer
Insomnia means difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or getting restful sleep. A specialist assessment looks for contributing factors, including breathing problems during sleep.
What is insomnia?
Insomnia means you find it hard to fall asleep. You may also wake at night and not get back to sleep. Some people wake too early. Others sleep through the night and still feel tired during the day. It is a common problem. Short spells often settle on their own. Poor sleep that lasts for weeks, or that affects your day, is worth having checked.
What does an assessment involve?
A sleep consultation looks at how you sleep and how you breathe at night. It also covers how you feel during the day. Your health history and any medicines you take matter too. These can all point to what is keeping you awake. A sleep study may be suggested if breathing at night needs a closer look.
Not for emergencies. If breathing difficulty is severe or getting worse quickly, call 998 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Common questions
When should I see a specialist about insomnia?
Book an assessment if sleep problems are regular, affect how you function during the day, or come with loud snoring, pauses in breathing or gasping at night.
Is this an emergency?
Sleep problems are rarely emergencies, but severe breathing difficulty is. If you or someone else is struggling to breathe, call 998 or go to the nearest emergency department.
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