About Insomnia
Insomnia is persistent difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or obtaining restorative sleep despite an adequate opportunity to rest. Stress, habits, medications, mental-health concerns and medical conditions can all contribute.
Symptoms can overlap between conditions. How they change, relevant health history, medications and risk factors are therefore as important as the condition name during an assessment.
Symptoms and details worth noting
Before a consultation, note the details that best describe the concern. They help the healthcare professional understand the problem and how urgent it may be.
- Bedtime, wake time, awakenings and total sleep
- Snoring, pauses in breathing, restless legs or unusual behaviours
- Daytime sleepiness, mood, concentration and driving safety
- Caffeine, alcohol, medication and screen habits
Possible causes and context
These factors can guide an assessment, but they cannot confirm a diagnosis on their own.
- Schedule, stress and sleep-environment factors
- Airway obstruction or another sleep disorder
- Medication, alcohol or substance effects
- Mental-health, hormonal or other medical conditions
LASO MD
How a virtual consultation may help
The healthcare professional first checks symptoms, risk factors and warning signs. Based on the assessment, they may discuss appropriate options or recommend in-person care.
- Review sleep patterns and daily impact
- Screen for sleep apnea and other common causes
- Discuss practical sleep-habit changes
- Determine whether a sleep study or specialist assessment is needed
Signs that need prompt attention
Do not drive if you cannot stay alert. Seek urgent care for severe breathing difficulty, sudden confusion or another acute medical emergency; call 911 for immediate danger.