The right starting point depends on the symptom. Some concerns are well suited to behavioral sleep treatment, while others need medical evaluation, apnea testing, laboratory testing, mental health care, or urgent attention.
When should I see a sleep-medicine physician?
Medical sleep evaluation may be appropriate for loud snoring, witnessed breathing pauses, gasping, marked daytime sleepiness, unintended sleep episodes, unusual nighttime movements or behaviors, or an unclear sleep concern. The physician can determine whether home apnea testing, laboratory testing, or another referral is appropriate.
When should I see a CBT-I clinician?
CBT-I is designed for chronic difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or returning to sleep. It is more than sleep-hygiene education and may involve sleep scheduling, stimulus-control strategies, adjustment of time in bed, and work with sleep-related thoughts and behaviors.
When may mental health care help?
Anxiety, depression, trauma-related distress, grief, and other mental health concerns can disrupt sleep. Some patients benefit from psychotherapy or psychiatric care alongside sleep treatment.
When should primary care be involved?
Primary care may be the appropriate starting point for new fatigue, pain, medication effects, hormonal symptoms, breathing concerns, or other possible medical contributors. Helyx does not provide comprehensive primary care or broad laboratory evaluation for every cause of poor sleep.
What requires urgent attention?
Seek prompt medical care for severe breathing difficulty, sudden neurological symptoms, loss of consciousness, chest pain, serious injury during sleep, or inability to remain awake safely. Call 911 for an emergency. Do not drive when uncontrolled sleepiness makes driving unsafe.
Helyx Health serves patients near 518 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301, including Stanford, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Los Altos, and surrounding communities.
