What to do if you have a sleep disorder ?

April 29, 2008

If you think that you have any kind of sleep disorder, your consulting doctor may want you to visit a sleep disorder center for appropriate diagnosis. There are large numbers of sleep centers all across United States. They must be accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

The visit to the sleep center most of the times is not beyond a night’s stay. Also in most of the cases the person would be required to visit the center the second time also. The first visit is in order to diagnose the sleep disorder while the second visit is to set accurate settings for any PAP machines that might be needed. Health insurance generally covers all of such expenses.

Doctors also recommend that no intake of caffeine or alcohol is done after 1200 hours on the day of the test. During the sleep you can wear your own nightclothes and read a book or magazine as you might be used to. Most sleep centers resemble the hotel room.

Diagnosis from the sleep disorder center is made using polysonography which keeps a continual record of your sleep. In order to have minute study, around two dozen electrodes are placed are pasted on various parts of your body.  Once all the instruments are in place, the technician leaves you to fall asleep.

The readings are then collected on a polysonogram and are monitored and analyzed by the sleep technician during the night. The final collated data is sent for further investigations to determine if a sleep disorder exists.

Although not very comfortable, the sleep study is very important to see if a disorder exists.

Posted in Health, Sleep disorder