When to see a doctor for sleep issues

I have trouble sleeping, and I've tried things like limiting blue light and counting backwards from 100. Should I see a doctor?

- Simar Bajaj

Adjusting your sleep hygiene and trying a few bedtime hacks are generally good ideas. But sometimes, keeping a consistent bed time or putting away your mobile phone is not enough.

Up to 20 per cent of people in the United States have chronic sleep disorders. However, most adults have never discussed sleep with a primary care provider.

"Physicians aren’t asking enough about it, and people don’t think it’s something to go to the doctor about," said Dr Lawrence Epstein, a sleep specialist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

While sleep disorders can seem self-evident, they are often more subtle than you think, and experts recommend watching out for certain warning signs.

REASONS TO SEE A DOCTOR

It is normal to have a bad night of sleep now and then, said Dr Philip Gehrman, director of the sleep, neurobiology and psychopathology laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania, especially if there is a clear stressor like a big examination or work project.

However, experts say there are three main reasons to see a doctor - and some ways to distinguish what is normal versus abnormal.

CANNOT FALL ASLEEP

When you are in bed, you might feel your mind racing or have trouble getting comfortable. These are possible signs of insomnia and restless leg syndrome, a condition characterised by an uncontrollable urge to move your legs, Dr Gehrman said.