## What is a somnologist? Diagnostics, treatment, and prevention of sleep disturbance are done by a doctor with expertise in somnology. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified roughly 100 diseases that are symptoms of insomnia. They belong to the most diverse fields of medicine. A somnologist (in Greek, "somnus" is sleep and "logos" is teaching) is the specialist who can analyze them and find the source of the problem. ## How do you know it's time to see a doctor? If you are experiencing problems with sleep for 3 months in a row at least 3 times a week including falling asleep more than 30 minutes, often waking up or waking up too early, or experiencing daytime sleepiness in sufficient time and conditions for sleep, it is worth seeing a doctor. ## At the appointment The somnologist will ask you in detail about your concerns: how long sleeping problems have been an issue, what you connect them with, and how they have changed your well-being and quality of life. It is important to know your daily routine, what hours you work, what illnesses you've had, and how you've been treated recently. The doctor will also evaluate your physique, measure your blood pressure, and examine your mouth and throat. You will then be required to undergo somnological tests for nighttime apnea, to determine daytime hypersomnia, to detect latent depression and anxiety, and to determine your chronotype — whether you are a "night owl" or a "lark". After that, the doctor will make referrals for laboratory and instrumental examinations. There will also be a sleep study, or polysomnography, which is the "gold standard" for diagnosing sleep disorders as it allows obtaining complete information about the functioning of various body systems during sleep. The solution to the problem may also require consultation with specialists such as a cardiologist, endocrinologist, otolaryngologist, or dentist. After collecting and analyzing all the information, the doctor makes a diagnosis and determines the treatment tactic, which is individual for each patient. ## How is insomnia treated? Modern methods of sleep treatment are very diverse. Treatment time depends on what caused the sleep disturbance. If the insomnia is caused by stress, special relaxation procedures will be used, and work with a psychotherapist will be assigned. Encephalopathy, or "music of the brain" — daily listening to music files, obtained by computer processing of the patient's EEG — gives good results. Inhalation with a xenon-oxygen mixture may be indicated. Light therapy with the use of special glasses, which restore sleep and wakefulness cycles, may help. Sleep apnea is treated with CPAP therapy, a unique method of correcting sleep apnea with a special apparatus. For non-stop snoring, intraoral mouth guards or even surgery may be indicated to improve the patient's quality of life.