How Can A Sleep Clinic Help You Get More Rest?

A bad night's sleep can ruin your day, but occasional sleeplessness is typically nothing to be concerned about. However, if you often find yourself unable to sleep through the night, you may have an undiagnosed sleep disorder. Poor quality sleep and insufficient sleep can cause a number of physical and mental problems. It's important to have your sleeplessness treated before this happens. A sleep clinic can help in these ways:

1. Collect your self-reported symptoms.

When you arrive at a sleep clinic, a clinician will ask you about the reason you've come. This is your opportunity to describe the symptoms you've been experiencing. Anything you can tell your clinician will help. Be sure to mention things like difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, racing thoughts, unusual physical sensations, and anything else that might be relevant.

2. Conduct a sleep study.

Your self-reported symptoms can be incredibly helpful when it comes to diagnosing your sleep issues. However, there is some information that clinicians can only gather when you're actually asleep. These clinics are equipped to conduct sleep studies, which measure your body's physical processes during sleep. To participate in a sleep study, you'll need to spend at least one night sleeping at the clinic. You will be attached to equipment designed to measure your oxygen levels, brain waves, and heart rate. While falling asleep under these conditions can be tricky, the information gleaned during a sleep study will be very useful when it comes to diagnosing your condition.

3. Prescribe medication.

Sleep medication can help people with severe insomnia. After you participate in a sleep study, you may be given a prescription for sleep aids. Sleep aids can help you fall asleep and stay asleep, although some medications may have side effects like morning drowsiness. Some people may also experience unusually vivid dreams or begin sleepwalking while under the influence of sleeping pills. Sleep medication is safe as long as you take it according to your doctor's instructions.

4. Prescribe sleep devices.

Some people don't suffer from insomnia at all but rather a condition called sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea stop breathing while they sleep, which can be very dangerous. Certain devices, like CPAP machines, can help people breathe through the night. If your sleep clinician diagnoses you with sleep apnea, you may be prescribed a CPAP machine or mouthguard to wear overnight. These devices will help you keep your airways open so you can breathe freely while unconscious.

For more information, contact a clinic like Elkview General Hospital.


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