Sleep Problems

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Diagnosis & Tests

Make an appointment with your healthcare provider if you think you have a sleep problem.

Your provider will look at your medical history and may give you a questionnaire. They may ask you about:

  • Sleep and breathing patterns
  • Naps
  • Medicines, including over-the-counter medicines and supplements
  • Caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol use
  • Pain
  • Bathroom trips at night
  • Your mood, including depression, anxiety, worry, and stress

Your provider will do a physical exam and may order lab tests. If you urinate often at night, you may need tests for diabetes, or for bladder, kidney, or prostate problems.

Keeping a Sleep Diary

Your provider may ask you to keep a sleep diary for one to two weeks. In it, you write down your sleep patterns and how rested you feel each day.

Tests for Sleep Apnea

If your provider thinks you may have sleep apnea or another condition that affects sleep, they may order tests.

A sleep study (called polysomnography) measures what happens in your body during sleep, including your breathing and oxygen levels. A sleep study can be done at home or overnight in a special sleep lab.

 

Last Updated May 2026

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