"Take all that information that you've gathered, and go see a sleep specialist" (1:38)
Writing down your sleep and wake habits can help prepare you for a doctor's appointment, says Carol Ash, DO.
Click the thumbnails below to watch more real stories.
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Be a Better Patient
Write down this info for your doctor
( 1:38 )
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Where to Start
Your primary care doctor can help
( :56 )
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Doug's Sleep Study
"It showed me when I stopped breathing"
( 1:25 )
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What Doctors Should Ask
Don't be shy about your sleep issues
( 1:20 )
Share Your Thoughts
Have you ever kept a sleep diary?
Most patients don’t realize they can do quite a bit of preparation, even before their first meeting with a sleep specialist. Start paying attention to your sleep habits, says Carol Ash, DO, medical director of the Sleep for Life center in Hillsborough, N.J.: What time do you go to bed at night? What time do you get up each morning? This can give you and your doctor a better idea of what your problem is, and help decide whether you need treatment for insomnia, a sleep study to investigate other potential problems, or maybe just an adjustment in your sleep schedule.
Be a Better PatientWrite down this info for your doctor
Where to StartYour primary care doctor can help
Doug's Sleep Study"It showed me when I stopped breathing"
What Doctors Should AskDon't be shy about your sleep issues