Everything You Should Know About Sleep Disorder Tests

A sleep disorder can deny a good night’s sleep interfering with your performance at school or work. If left untreated, these disorders can result in further complications that may harm your health. If you are looking to get relief from sleep disorders Bridgewater, the Respacare team has your back.

When to consider sleep disorder tests

Sleep apnea refers to a sleep disorder that occurs when your breathing repeatedly stops in your sleep. It is not rare to develop temporary sleep problems from stress or jet lag. But if you struggle with insomnia or wake up tired every morning for several months, you may have to consider a sleep disorder test. Respacare comprises a highly trained and experienced team that offers full-service sleep and pulmonary medicine.

The specialists determine whether you need a sleep disorder test during your initial consultation. Sleep disorders that the team may test include sleep apnea, narcolepsy (hypersomnia), restless leg syndrome, circadian rhythm disorders, and insomnia. If you struggle with chronic fatigue even after sleeping the whole night, Respacare specialists can help.

Different forms of sleep disorders

Respacare uses advanced diagnostic techniques to detect the root cause of your sleep problems. During your first appointment, your provider will discuss your symptoms before determining the suitable treatment.

• Home sleep testing

This technique evaluates your respiratory function, sleep duration, and other vital signs while you sleep in your bedroom. It is the most accurate sleep disorder test and can help diagnose insomnia and sleep apnea.

• Job-related sleep testing

Job-related sleep testing is an excellent diagnostic tool for people whose occupation requires them to be awake at night. People who may benefit from this diagnostic test include airline pilots, commercial truck drivers, and medical professionals. This test helps your sleep medicine provider understand your sleep issues so they can improve your sleep quality, improving your job performance, and overall health.

• Maintenance of wakefulness test

The maintenance of wakefulness tests evaluates your attentiveness during the day to identify your problems related to daytime sleepiness, like narcolepsy.

Sometimes, your provider may recommend multiple sleep latency to examine the cause of excessive daytime sleepiness.

What to expect after sleep disorder tests

Your provider will make an evaluation depending on your symptoms and sleep history from a person who shares your bedroom. Afterward, they will analyze your results and develop an effective treatment plan. If you have a mild sleep disorder, your physician may recommend minor lifestyle modifications like quitting smoking and losing weight. If these modifications are futile, or if you have moderate to severe sleep apnea, your provider may suggest more aggressive but minimally invasive treatments. Your provider may recommend therapies like continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), oral appliances, treatment of associated medical conditions, supplemental oxygen, or adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV). The team may only recommend surgery if other treatments prove futile. They may conduct a monthly trial of different techniques before considering surgery. However, for individuals with jaw structure problems, surgery may be the best option.

If you have trouble sleeping or experience chronic fatigue, call the Respacare office or book an appointment online for a sleep disorder test.