Sleep Tight in a Sleep Clinic

A sleep clinic is where people with sleep disorders can be diagnosed. If you are having trouble sleeping, it may be better to go to a sleep clinic.  Experts may conduct testing to
determine the nature of, and the right treatment for, your disorder.

Sleep clinic testing can be expensive. However, your health insurance can cover most or all of the cost.  If your main doctor refers you to a clinic, your health insurance can process it.  Lack of sleep due to sleep disorders will take a serious toll in an individual’s life. Going to a sleep clinic may be expensive but the cost of clinical testing and cure may be worth it.

The clinic will most likely ask you to fill out forms indicating the detailed history of your sleep patterns and problems. It would be wise to make your own observation and summary before you proceed to the clinic. They might ask you to indicate the medications you take and whether or not you smoke tobacco, drink alcohol, consume caffeine, and other substances. These are often needed to establish a strong background for your problem.

Do’s and Dont’s in a Sleep Clinic

1. Prepare a list medicines you are current taking like vitamins, maintenance drugs and those that were prescribed by your doctor.
2. Bring clothes, slippers, toiletries and all your basic bedtime needs.
3. You may also bring books, writing materials, drawing pads and other things that will not cause you to be active and hyper.
4. Do not bring large sums of money.
5. If you are undergoing surgery, inform the doctor if you have crowned teeth or bridge work because there might be a slight risk of damage to your teeth.

There are usually several sleep clinics in many large cities. You can check the phone books or web sites for a sleep clinic near your place.

Sleep clinics usually have a supervising physician, but most of the work related to doing tests is done by technicians. The results of the tests are interpreted by the doctor.

Most sleep clinic studies require overnight or more visits. Apnea and narcolepsy may be diagnosed in one night, while insomnia often requires visits of several nights in a row. You can go to work during the day.

During diagnosis, you are made to sleep with electrodes attached to various points on your body. The electrodes go on your head, eyes, chin, and chest, depending on the type of study ordered by the doctor. These electrodes collect information. A computer records your brain waves (indicating the phase of sleep), rapid eye movements (REM), muscle tension, and breathing patterns.

There is often a camera (adjusted for low light) and an audio-recorder in the room. Sometimes the technicians will let you sleep until you wake up naturally. Sometimes they will wake you up at a pre-selected time.

For answers to your problem, you will have to wait until the doctor reads and analyzes the data collected from the tests conducted on you.

Some people find sleeping in a new location difficult. However, some patients fall asleep at a clinic easier because they are not particularly trying to get to sleep.

Remember that sleep clinics do not cure your disorder! They diagnose a problem and recommend treatment. They can also test out a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine and see if it helps. This information is important before the patient buys an expensive CPAP machine.

Sleep clinics also do multiple sleep latency testing (MSLT). It can diagnose narcolepsy (sudden and uncontrollable sleepiness), hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness without cause), sleep apnea and other sleep disorder. If you are suffering from these or other types of sleep disorders, a sleep clinic can be very helpful to help find a cure for your problems and finally enjoy a good night’s sleep.