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Tools to Assess Your Sleep Persistent trouble falling or staying asleep at night or frequent drowsing by day is not normal, nor is it inevitable with age. There are different types of sleep problems. Some of them can mask an underlying medical disorder and others are commonly associated with certain types of illness and conditions. Sleep disorders are common among Americans, and they result in diminished quality of life and personal health. Researchers have linked lack of sleep to increased risk for medical problems and to heightened risk for accidents. It is important to understand the underlying cause of a sleep disturbance, and there are many treatments available to help restore the body's natural ability to sleep. If you are experiencing persistent problems with sleep, talk with your doctor. A sleep study at Martha Jefferson's Sleep Medicine Center may be the next step in getting you back to healthy sleep. How to Prepare for Your Doctor's Visit Take this Sleep Assessment Quiz (PDF) Sleep Diary (PDF) How to Prepare for Your Doctor's Visit Record your sleep schedule and habits in a sleep diary over the course of two weeks. When is it difficult to sleep? How often do you have problems sleeping? Note sleepiness that you feel in the daytime and how it affects your ability to function. The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) offers an on-line questionnaire, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, to rate your level of daytime sleepiness. Also available on the site is an outline for a sleep diary. Visit the NSF Web site, www.sleepfoundation.org. Take these to your appointment:
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Sleep Medicine Center
423 Lexington Avenue Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 (434) 971-5280 
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