Many people struggle with getting a good night’s sleep on occasion. Still others may suffer from chronic insomnia. These are usually temporary conditions that can be remedied by either physical or mental changes, such as not using electronics before bedtime, working out more or eating differently. But for some people, their sleep problems result from a medical condition. In these cases, they may need sleep disorder treatment.

What kind of sleep disorder treatment you need depends largely on what type of sleep disorder you have. For example, if your sleep problems are caused by a mental illness such as depression, which is something that happens in about 90% of cases, you may need a change in your medication or different therapy. If you have temporomandibular joint disorders, also known as TMJ, you might need a therapy to deal with the teeth grinding that is disrupting your sleep. This is a disorder that affects up to 35 million people, but treatments are effective.

Sleep apnea is a disorder that affects fewer people than TMJ, about 18 million, but it is a much more serious sleep disorder. In sleep apnea, sufferers can stop breathing for very short periods of time hundreds of times a night. Not only does this make sleep difficult, but it also is a very serious health risk. Sleep apnea is thought to be connected to obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and other maladies. It’s estimated that about 38,000 people die each year from heart problems linked to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is not simply snoring, and regular snoring remedies and snoring solutions will not help.

The most common sleep apnea treatment is the use of a CPAP machine. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure, and the mask works by forcing air into your airway to keep it from collapsing, which is what causes the apneas while you are sleeping. CPAP treatment is very effective for those who stay with it, although some people find it difficult to sleep with the mask on.

Whatever type of sleep disorder you have, it is important to see a doctor to get it diagnosed properly and get the right treatment. If you have trouble sleeping that is more than occasional, see your doctor to get it checked out.