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Sleep and sleep disorders
Sleep disorders can manifest as insomnia, difficulty falling asleep or fatigue during the day. If the sleep disorder lasts more than three weeks, on several nights a week, it's a good idea to book an appointment with a specialist.
Specialists in the article
LT,Keuhkosairauksien ja allergologian erikoislääk.
Palvelukoordinaattori, unihäiriöt
Revised 9/27/2024
Sleep disorders at a glance
- There are many different kinds of sleep disorders, such as insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, sleep apnoea causing pauses in breathing during sleep, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy and various types of parasomnias.
- In addition to an in-depth interview, a sleep diary and various monitoring forms, sleep disorders can be examined by using various tests that measure sleep or alertness.
- Depending on the cause of the disorder, the treatment of sleep disorders can include advice and guidance provided by a specialist, digitally supported coaching programmes, a sleep apnoea oral appliance from a dentist, certain procedures and, for example, CPAP therapy for diagnosed sleep apnoea.
Sleep problems and sleep disorders
The definition of a good night's sleep is waking up in the morning feeling alert. Good sleep quality is part of good quality of life. A busy or irregular lifestyle can, by itself, prevent a good night's sleep. Shift work, children waking up at night, an inflammatory disease or pain can occasionally disrupt sleep. This can result in, for example, the following:
- fatigue during the day
- sleep pressure
- having to make an effort to stay awake
- a tendency to fall asleep during the day
- mistakes at work
- exhaustion.
Examination of sleep disorders
It is often necessary to ask not only the patient but also their loved ones about symptoms and phenomena related to sleep and sleeping. In particular, snoring, pauses in breathing, leg movements and certain special symptoms, such as teeth grinding, i.e. bruxism, and sleep disorders in children can only be discovered when the patient's family members notice the situation. Alertness during the day and variations in symptoms are monitored with a sleep diary and monitoring forms.
In addition to an in-depth interview, a sleep diary and various monitoring forms, sleep disorders can be examined by using, for example, the following:
- a sleep registration study carried out at home, i.e. a concise sleep polygraphy.
- a maintenance of wakefulness test to assess alertness.
- an extensive sleep polygraphy study to survey the state of sleep.
Of these examinations, Mehiläinen carries out concise sleep polygraphies. In addition, our professionals have the option of referring the patient to our partner for a maintenance of wakefulness test or an extensive sleep polygraphy, if necessary.
Treatment of sleep disorders
Sleep disorders are treated by specialists, such as doctors, nurses, psychologists and therapists. The treatment of sleep disorders is tailored in accordance with the cause of the disorder. Depending on the cause of the disorder, the following can be used in the treatment of sleep disorders:
- advice and guidance provided by a specialist
- digitally supported coaching programmes
- customised noise-reducing earplugs for sleeping
- a personalised sleep apnoea oral appliance available through a dentist
- certain procedures and, for example, CPAP in cases of sleep apnoea.
Sometimes a change in medications or their dosage can help.
Mehiläinen's services for the treatment of sleep disorders include:
- Guidance and advice: Guidance and advice provided by a specialist.
- Sleep apnoea oral appliance: A personalised sleep apnoea oral appliance available through a dentist.
- Coaching programmes: Coaching programmes related to sleep disorders.
- CPAP therapy: In the case of diagnosed sleep apnoea, treatments such as CPAP therapy can be used.
Examination and treatment of sleep disorders at Mehiläinen
- Our sleep disorder specialists will help you figure out the cause of your possible sleep disorder and find the right treatment for it.
- If a physical cause is revealed, the nature and extent of the disorder can be surveyed more precisely by means of an at-home sleep registration study, i.e. a concise sleep polygraphy, carried out via Mehiläinen's laboratory.
- If surgical procedures are required, Mehiläinen's specialists have the expertise to perform various procedures.
- The treatment of a severe sleep disorder may require the expertise of specialists in multiple fields.
If necessary, Mehiläinen can combine the expertise of several specialists – such as neurologists, psychiatrists, pulmonologists, ENT doctors and clinical neurophysiologists – to examine sleep disorders and treat patients.
How to get a good night's sleep
You can influence your sleep through your actions during the day and evening. Stress, adversity and challenging life situations often affect sleep. You can improve your quality of sleep with the following measures, for example:
Start calming down early in the evening and also make your nights calm.
Stick to a regular sleep schedule.
Go outside and exercise during the day.
In the morning, try a therapy light to support your sleep-wake cycle.
Ensure good sleep hygiene, such as good sleeping conditions.
Make sure you have healthy habits.
Pay attention to your use of substances, such as alcohol, coffee and tobacco.
When to seek help for sleep problems
To diagnose sleep disorders, it's good to find out the underlying causes so that the symptoms can be treated correctly.
Seek treatment if:
- The sleep problems last for more than three weeks, occurring several nights a week, and trying to correct the situation yourself does not help.
- The most important of all indicators is your own coping. If you constantly sleep too little, you will lack refreshing and restorative rest. If prolonged, constant fatigue can cause problems in both your physical and mental health.
- A drop in mood and activity are signs that not everything is as it should be.
Prices are starting prices and depend on the selected studies and treatment methods. An outpatient clinic fee and Kanta fee are added to consultation visits.
| Service | Price estimate |
|---|---|
| Start of CPAP machine therapy (1st appointment with a sleep apnoea nurse) *The customer purchases a CPAP machine for themselves, starting from EUR 223.90. | from 223,90 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Initial examination for snoring | from 66,80 € Without Kela reimbursement from 96,80 € |
| Concise sleep polygraphy No Kela reimbursement will be paid for a concise sleep polygraphy. Learn more and book an appointment for a concise sleep polygraphy | from 542,40 € No Kela reimbursement |
| First visit for sleep apnea splint Total cost estimate for the sleep apnea splint from 1200 €. Learn more about the sleep apnea splint and book an appointment (in Finnish) | from 96,80 € Without Kela reimbursement from 123,80 € |
| Initial evaluation for sleep apnoea | from 66,80 € Without Kela reimbursement from 96,80 € |
| Initial examination of sleep disorders | from 66,80 € Without Kela reimbursement from 96,80 € |
Sleep-related symptoms
Insomnia
Being stressed and busy daily can make it difficult to calm down, which, in turn, will affect sleep.
Other sleep disorders
Sleep disorders include restless legs and the rarer disorders of narcolepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome and various parasomnias.
Sleep apnoea
Narrowing of the airways and relaxation of the muscles during sleep can lead to pauses in breathing.
Snoring
Noise during sleep is caused by a narrowing of the airway.
Frequently asked questions about sleep and sleep disorders
The need for sleep is individual, but the average recommendation for adults is 7–9 hours per night. Children and young people usually need more sleep. It's important to remember that the quality of sleep is as important as its quantity.
A sleep disorder is a condition in which sleep is disrupted or abnormal. It can manifest itself in many different ways, such as insomnia, fatigue during the day or abnormalities such as snoring or sleep apnoea.
Naps can have a refreshing effect and provide a brief moment of recovery in the middle of a busy day. However, if you nap too late in the afternoon or too long, it may interfere with your sleep that night. The recommended maximum duration of naps is about 30 minutes.
Hereditary factors contribute to a person's susceptibility to sleep disorders. However, usually the person's own lifestyle and life events have a greater impact on sleep and its possible disruptions than hereditary factors.
If you suspect that you have a sleep disorder, you can book an appointment directly with a professional specialised in sleep disorders, a general practitioner or an occupational health physician. Mehiläinen offers multidisciplinary in the examination and treatment of sleep disorders.
Performing a sleep study requires expertise from multiple specialities. Mehiläinen offers multidisciplinary help for the examination and treatment of symptoms. For example, a sleep diary and monitoring forms can be used in the sleep study and, if necessary, sleep registration (typically a concise sleep polygraphy) can be performed at home.
