There can be a lot of reasons why you’re not sleeping as well as you want. Learn more about specific sleep conditions so you can make an informed decision about your sleep care.
If you’re having trouble getting a good night’s sleep, you’re not alone. 50 -70 million Americans are estimated to have some kind of sleep disorder, and many adults find that sleeping gets more difficult with age. The good news is that restful sleep is within reach. Many people experience lasting results with sleep therapies and treatments.
Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleeping disorders and one that can cause serious health problems. It is when a sleepers’ breathing is interrupted during the night, stopping and starting irregularly. This may be because of a blocked airway and/or improper brain signals to the diaphragm.
Sleep apnea can be broken into three types:
Polysomnography, a type of sleep study, is a multi-parameter test used in the study of sleep and as a diagnostic tool in sleep medicine. It provides data that is essential in evaluating sleep and sleep-related complaints and problems. It measures your brain activity, oxygen level, heart rhythm, muscle activity and breathing pattern as you sleep. Sensors are placed on your head, face, chest and legs.
The sensors send tiny electrical signals to a computer to be recorded and reviewed. The signals show when you are asleep or awake during the night. The brain waves and eye movements can detect when you are in REM (dream) sleep or Non-REM sleep. The breathing-belt sensors show your breathing pattern or if you stop breathing during your sleep. Airflow and oxygen sensors are used to detect low air flow and changes in oxygen level.
Find a sleep medicine doctor at Lutheran Medical Center
