Conditions That Can Be Diagnosed From a Sleep Study

Getting the right amount of sleep is one of the best things you can do for your health. But, unfortunately, many people don’t get a good night’s sleep very often and don’t even realize it. If you’re feeling drained or excessively sleepy during the day, it’s possible you have a medical condition that is preventing you from sleeping like you should. Undergoing a sleep study at a sleep clinic will give your physician the information they need to determine if you need treatment for one of the following conditions so you can finally sleep well.

Insomnia

While you probably know if you suffer from insomnia because you’re unable to fall asleep or stay asleep, and it’s been happening at least a few times a week for several months. But, a sleep study can use a multiple sleep latency test to measure how quickly you fall asleep and how often you wake up during your sleep. This test is usually used to diagnose excessive daytime sleepiness, which is often the result of insomnia, among other conditions.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can be a very dangerous condition because it is characterized by abnormal breathing during sleep. People who suffer from sleep apnea have long gaps between breaths, which leads to a decline in sleep quality and a lack of oxygen to the body. It is one of the most common sleep disorders in the world, but often goes undiagnosed because people don’t always know they have it. The main test for sleep apnea is polysomnography, during which eye movements, brain activity, muscle activity, respiratory effort, airflow, blood oxygen levels, body positioning, body movements, snoring, and heart rate are observed while you sleep to diagnose sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.

Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless leg syndrome is a highly annoying and sometimes painful condition that seems to become more obvious before or during sleep. It is characterized by itching, prickling, crawling, or pulling sensations in the legs that create an overwhelming need to move the legs. The condition can make falling asleep and staying asleep difficult. It is diagnosed by a polysomnography in which excessive leg movement is observed.

Narcolepsy

This sleep disorder is often misrepresented as suddenly falling dead asleep during the day. While the condition does involve excessive daytime sleepiness, it usually doesn’t result in someone passing out, unable to be awakened. Narcolepsy does interfere with school, work, or the operation of vehicles, and can result in injuries related to sleepiness, so it is important to get it diagnosed through a sleep study like a multiple sleep latency test.

Conclusion

The four conditions discussed here are the most common sleep disorders that can be diagnosed through a sleep study at a sleep clinic. Other sleep issues that can be assessed at a sleep clinic include periodic limb movement disorder, sleepwalking, sleep talking, and REM sleep behavior disorder. If you are experiencing sleep problems that are causing other issues, like daytime sleepiness, talk to your doctor about getting a prescription for a sleep study so you can finally wake up feeling refreshed.