How do I know if I have a sleep disorder?
If you consistently feel tired during the day, or routinely wake up feeling unrested, you may have a sleep disorder. Besides reducing your efficiency during the day, sleep disorders can lead to other serious health problems. If you think you might have a sleep disorder, click here to take this simple self-assessment. Talk to your physician about the results. Your physician may feel you are a candidate for a sleep study, which is a specialized overnight test used to diagnose sleep disorders. There are successful treatment options for most sleep disorders. Prompt identification (or diagnosis) and treatment of sleep problems can greatly improve quality of life and overall health.
What happens during a sleep study while I'm sleeping?
Throughout the course of your sleep, the monitoring equipment is recording your sleep patterns, blood oxygen levels, and body movements. An experienced Sleep Technician monitors these sleep patterns from an adjacent room throughout the night. We require seven hours of recorded sleep patterns to adequately complete the test.
What happens in the morning after my test?
After the test is complete, the Sleep Technician shares observations from the evening with a physician who is specially trained and experienced in interpreting sleep studies. The physician will interpret your test based on your medical history, your self-assessment, and your recorded sleep patterns.
Typically, your study is complete after one night in the Center. However, you may be asked to stay during the day for additional testing or come back for another night if an additional study is required.
When will I receive the results?
Generally, the results of your sleep study will be shared with your primary physician within 14 days after your test. Together with your physician, our sleep specialist will develop an individualized treatment plan based on your study.
What are treatment options?
Possible treatment approaches include medication, changes in work schedule or daily living habits, or even weight loss. A nasal mask may be prescribed to relieve snoring in upper-airway obstruction related to sleep apnea.
Patients are occasionally asked to return to the Center for a follow-up visit to check progress. However, your family physician will manage the long term treatment of your sleep disorder in the majority of instances.