Many people underestimate the importance of quality sleep time. Some people do not get enough sleep, while others have difficulty 
achieving restful sleep at all. Whatever the reason for not getting enough rest, a lack of sleep can adversely impact your health. Fortunately, a sleep study can reveal factors affecting your ability to achieve restful sleep. At our office in Bradenton, FL, Dr. Jeremy McConnell can order a sleep study to learn more about your sleep patterns and develop a plan for helping you achieve quality sleep time.
Sleep Studies
One reason why some individuals are unable to achieve quality sleep time is due to a sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea, sleepwalking, restless leg syndrome, or periodic limb movement disorder. Sleep studies are helpful for determining if a sleep disorder could be interfering with your ability to achieve restful sleep. Sleep studies are conducted overnight, allowing the doctor to observe your sleep patterns throughout the course of a full sleep session.
Sleep studies are conducted in a relaxing and comfortable environment. While the patient sleeps, different types of data are collected to help the doctor learn more about the patient’s sleep patterns. For example, small electrodes are taped to a patient’s arms and legs to determine if periodic limb movement disorder is interfering with sleep. The electrodes make it possible to record arm and leg movements during sleep. Information on a patient’s heart rate, breathing, blood oxygen level, and brain waves can also be gathered during a sleep study.
Some sleep tests can be performed at home. This allows you to follow your normal routine and sleep in the comfort of your home. The testing will monitor your breathing during your sleep.
Based on the results of a sleep study, a plan can be developed for helping the patient finally sleep better. For patients with restless leg syndrome, for example, minimizing caffeine intake and regularly exercising can help improve sleep. For other patients, an iron deficiency could be contributing to restless leg syndrome or periodic limb movement disorder. Treating iron deficiency can minimize extensive arm or leg movements when sleeping and help promote better sleep.
Contact Us
To learn more about how a sleep study could help you, schedule an appointment with Dr. McConnell by calling our office at (941) 792-8383.
