3 Reasons to Have A Sleep Study Performed

A good night’s sleep is essential for both our physical health and emotional well-being, and we shouldn’t underestimate its benefits.

It can help with reducing stress, improving memory, lowering blood pressure, and decreasing the probability of life-threatening diseases. Some experts say it could even make you smarter. The quality and amount of sleep you get can also significantly affect your mood.

Unfortunately, many people don’t get enough sleep every night. A lack of sleep prevents the body from performing essential functions such as repairing and rejuvenating bones and muscle tissues, restoring energy, and regulating hormones needed for the body’s development and growth.

Some merely need to make simple lifestyle changes like balancing their work and social obligations. However, for others, sleep disorders such as sleep apnea may be stopping them from getting a restful night’s sleep.

Experts believe that approximately 50 to 70 million adults in the U.S. are suffering from various kinds of sleep disorders. Despite this, very few people resort to treatments to overcome these disorders.

Others may not even be aware they suffer from such a disorder, as their symptoms may only occur while they sleep. As such, they remain completely oblivious of their problem and the potential repercussions of leaving it untreated.

If you are unsure about whether you suffer from a sleeping disorder, here are a few compelling reasons to have a sleep study performed.

1. A Sleep Study Could Improve Your Physical Health

Some people might not mind losing a few hours of sleep here and there, especially if they’ve been functioning on a low amount of sleep for some time. Many people don’t consider a mild or even moderate lack of sleep to be a problem. However, these are some of the possible implications of an untreated sleep disorder.

• Stress
• Obesity
• Fatigue
• Excessive sleepiness during the daytime
• High blood pressure
• Cardiovascular disease
• Heart attacks
• An increased chance of accidents
• Diabetes
• Morning headaches

These are all risks to physical health resulting from a bad night’s sleep. However, a lack of sleep can impair mental health and well-being too, causing conditions like:

• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Depression
• Poor concentration
• Cognitive impairment
• Reduced work performance

Perpetual tiredness can also impact on the quality of time spent with family and friends, due to a general lack of the energy required to socialize.

2. Sleeping Disorders Can Affect the Health of Your Sleeping Partner

Many people, if asked, would say they are more concerned with the health and well-being of their loved ones than they are their own. However, as sleeping disorders often go unnoticed by the sufferer themselves, their poor sleeping habits can negatively impact their sleeping partners too.

Those with sleep disorders can inadvertently keep their partner awake at night, which can have a detrimental influence on their quality of life. These are some of the sleeping disorders that can impact the health of your loved ones:

• Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) and Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) – These cause the affected person to move their legs uncontrollably at night. These conditions occur either involuntarily while sleeping (PLMD) or voluntarily to reduce discomfort (RLS). These movements can prevent a partner from falling asleep or wake them up abruptly.
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea – People suffering from this condition often snore loudly, which can affect their partner’s sleep. Sleep apnea patients also experience interruptions in their normal breathing, which can keep loved ones awake at night for fear that their partner may completely stop breathing.
• Bruxism – Sufferers tend to grind their teeth and clench their jaws tightly. The sounds produced can disturb their partner’s sleep.

3. Sleep Studies Are Cost-Effective

People often consider sleep studies to be expensive. While it’s true that most sleep studies are costly, many insurance providers acknowledge the dangers of untreated sleeping disorders and cover reasonable costs.

It’s worth checking what your insurance provider offers. You may be pleasantly surprised to discover that a sleep study is not as unaffordable as you first thought.

Depending on the kind of sleeping disorder you think you might be suffering from, you may be able to take a home sleep test. A home sleep test is a cost-effective alternative to a polysomnogram or a laboratory sleep study.

Final Word

There are many reasons to get a sleep study done if you suffer from a lack of sleep or experience excessive snoring. Patients who undergo sleep studies and follow the recommended treatment plan eventually experience positive changes to the quality of their life.