4 Benefits to Having a Sleep Study

female sleeping in bed hitting alarm clock

4 Benefits to Having a Sleep Study

Are you struggling with disrupted or poor quality sleep? Are you unable to identify the reason for your troubled sleep? You may benefit from a sleep study. Sleep studies are tests that record and measure activities in your body during sleep. They are used to evaluate your sleep and help make a diagnosis about what kind of sleep disorder you may have.

Sleep studies are prescribed by a doctor; therefore, speak with your medical provider if you are experiencing any issues with your sleep or sleep-related symptoms, such as daytime fatigue, drowsiness, or depression. There are also various different types of sleep studies that your doctor will be best positioned to help you select based on your symptoms.

Read on to find out the 4 benefits of sleep studies and why you should consider one today.

1. It’s the best chance of getting the right diagnosis.

Sleep studies are comprehensive tests that screen you for all kinds of sleep disorders. They can identify if you have sleep apnea, narcolepsy, periodic limb movement disorder, REM sleep behavior disorder, or any other sleep disorder. The test measures a wide range of variables including your brain waves, heart rate, oxygen levels in your blood, and eye and leg movements during sleep. This gives your doctor a wealth of information from which to make an informed diagnosis.

2. It’ll guide you towards receiving the best treatment for you.

After a sleep study, the results are usually processed and reviewed within two weeks. From there, your doctor will be able to decide on the best course of treatment for your sleep issue. The information from the sleep study will help them determine whether you will be best served with sleep medicines, light therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, an airway pressure device, or other types of treatment.

sleep study

3. It’s an easy first step towards improving your sleep.

Don’t be intimidated by the prospect of having your sleep monitored. Sleep studies are convenient, non-invasive, and typically take place over the course of just one night. You can have it performed at a sleep lab in a clinic or administer it at home with a home sleep device. The set-up involves electrodes safely and painlessly attached to the head and body with adhesive. There may also be elastic belts placed around the chest to monitor breathing, a clip on your finger or earlobe to measure oxygen levels, and a breathing mask to test for sleep apnea. It’s a relatively straightforward and convenient set-up, and you can snooze right through the rest of the test.

4. It’s a smart investment for your long-term health.

Undiagnosed sleep disorders can be extremely dangerous. When sleep is disrupted or poor in quality, the body is at higher risk for developing illnesses, infections, cardiovascular issues, and impaired mental health. Don’t let your sleep issues go untreated and take preventative action with a sleep study.

To find out more about how you can take active steps to ensure better health, contact us today.