Insomnia ''often mistaken for sleepiness''
19/07/2010
People that fail to get their bed rest may not be having their symptoms properly diagnosed, according to a leading sleep expert.
Speaking to the Vancouver Sun, Associated Sleep Services fatigue management specialist Carolyn Schur underlined the importance of proper diagnosis, explaining that sleep problems can be caused by other issues such as trauma, abuse or anxiety.
She said that many doctors "tend to deal with insomnia as though it was one entity".
However, Ms Schur noted: "We''re starting to understand that the symptoms of not being able to sleep, not being able to stay asleep, and waking early are the criteria by which you diagnose insomnia."
Recent research published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine indicates that poor quality sleep among adolescents could result in more road accidents.
Researchers from the University of Bologna indicated that 15 per cent of students taking part in the study that had crashed their car believed the cause was sleepiness.
Posted by Elizabeth Mewes
