Sleep Evaluation and Testing

The first step in seeking help with a sleep complaint is to discuss it with your family physician. Not all complaints require a sleep study. Your sleep specialist will make that decision after a thorough evaluation. If a sleep study is required, you will be referred to the Hardin Medical Sleep Center to schedule your appointment. Testing will generally coincide with your normal sleep hours. The study is a non-invasive, painless procedure to determine if you have a sleep disorder.
 

Common Sleep Disorders:

 

Insomnia

The most common sleep-related problem, insomnia, is characterized by difficulty falling asleep and /or staying asleep. It can be a symptom of another sleep disorder or a condition itself. Depression and pain frequently aggravate this condition.
 

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

OSA affects over 18 million Americans. Loud snoring and airway blockage occur with this disorder, resulting in a drop in oxygen levels and arousal in sleep. These episodes can occur hundreds of times during sleep. Left untreated, OSA can increase the risk of weight gain, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and fatigue-related accident.
 

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

This is a disagreeable feeling in the legs that can only be relieved by moving them. This most often occurs at night and can delay sleep onset.

During your sleep study, the sleep technologist will closely monitor and record your brain waves, eye movements, muscle activity, breathing patterns, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and rhythm. After the sleep study is completed and “scored”, the sleep physician will review the recording to establish a diagnosis and treatment plan.
 

Do You Need a Sleep Study?

Talk to your doctor to see if you are a candidate for a sleep study, then ask for a referral to the HMC Sleep Lab.
For an appointment, call 731-926-8474.

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