Do you have problems sleeping? Do you feel tired most days of the week?

Two-thirds of all Americans suffer from sleep disorders. Although we spend one-third of our lives asleep, most of us don't realize how sleep disorders can profoundly disrupt not only our sleeping hours but also our waking hours. If left untreated, some sleep disorders can pose serious threats to our health, and increase our risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal reflex, immune system damage and stroke. Untreated sleep disorders can also increase the risk of residential, motor vehicle and industrial accidents which can not only cause life threatening
injuries to ourselves but to our loved ones, strangers and our coworkers. If you have sleep problems that last longer than a few weeks, you may need a sleep study.

What is a Sleep Study?

Sleep studies are a controlled group of tests that monitor what happens to your body while you are asleep. The studies are painless, and in many cases, will require an overnight stay in a private sleep room, much like a comfortable hotel room.

During the sleep study our trained technicians use special sensors to monitor and record the activity of your heart, lungs, and brain waves; the air flow to and from your nose and mouth; the level of oxygen in your blood, and the movements of your muscles and limbs.

Sleep studies can also determine whether you have a problem with your stages of sleep; Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) and Rapid Eye Movement (REM). Normally, NREM and REM alternate 4 to 5 times during a night's sleep.

Sleep Disorders:

Insomnia is a condition in which a person has difficulty falling asleep. There are many different types of Insomnia.

Narcolepsy is a disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and periods of muscle weakness called cataplexy.

Sleep Apnea is a potentially dangerous condition, is often associated with loud, frequent snoring. Sleep apnea can affect persons of any age or gender, but it is most common among overweight persons, middle aged men, and those older than 50 years. Persons with this disorder stop breathing for as long as 2 minutes while asleep.

Snoring is a breathing noise that occurs while someone is sleeping, and is usually caused by an obstruction in the airway. Although many people think snoring is some what comical, snoring is a very serious condition, and should not be taken lightly.