Sleep

Did you ever hear a friend or coworker brag about how little sleep they get? Sleep should not be viewed as a luxury, and getting too little sleep should not be a status symbol. Sufficient sleep is increasingly being recognized as an essential aspect of health promotion and chronic disease prevention. One third of American adults and 70 percent of teens are not getting the recommended amount of sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Many people consider sleep a low priority, and only go to bed once everything else (and maybe a few hours of their favorite TV series!) is done.

Sleeping less than 7-9 hours each night is tied to a number of chronic diseases and conditions. Would getting to bed on time seem more important for you and your family if you knew that it might help reduce your risk for diabetes, high blood pressure/hypertension, stroke, obesity, and even depression and cancer? Sleep deprived individuals are said to be 70% more likely to be involved in workplace accidents versus their non-drowsy colleagues. Also, drowsy driving can be as dangerous — and preventable — as driving while intoxicated. Drowsy drivers cause over 6,000 fatal car accidents every year.

There are many things that affect the amount and the quality of the sleep you get. Some people have trouble falling asleep, while others fall asleep, but wake up often and have difficulty falling back to sleep. Others may have irregular work schedules, work nights, or have health conditions such as sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome that impact their sleep.

Click here for a list of 11 sleep rules that can help you get your “zzzzzs”.
If you are having trouble sleeping, consider taking this Sleep Quiz, or contact the Sleep Disorders Centers at St. Luke’s for help with evaluating, testing and treating problems with sleeping.

What is a Sleep Disorder?

The Sleep Disorders Centers at St. Luke’s help evaluate, test and treat problems with sleeping.

A sleep disorder may be:

Difficulty falling or staying asleep
Falling asleep at inappropriate times
Excessive total sleep time
Abnormal behaviors associated with sleep

Without proper sleep, a person may suffer:

Fatigue
Irritability
Depression
Reduced attention, concentration and memory
Mood or personality changes
Muscle aches and pains
More frequent illnesses
Lost productivity
A high accident rate

Disrupted sleep due to difficulty breathing has been associated with:

Abnormal heart rhythm
Hypertension
Accelerated heart disease
Stroke
Sudden death

About Sleep Studies

Once your doctor prescribes a sleep study, you schedule a time to come to the Center for the study. Six to eight hours are needed for the study. Patients sleep in a private, home-like room. During the study, sensors are applied to monitor brain waves, eye movement, heart rate, breathing, oxygen levels and muscle activity. Specially trained, patient-friendly sleep technicians make sure that care is customized for each person during the sleep study. The technician watches the patient on a video monitor and keeps tabs on body movements, oxygen levels and muscle activity.

A doctor who is board certified in sleep disorders reads and interprets the results of the test. The doctor then provides a recommendation for treatment or follow-up. Patients may set up an appointment for a sleep evaluation on their own or may be referred by a doctor.

The St. Luke’s Sleep Disorders Centers accept most major insurance plans.

Recommended Steps to Successful Sleep

Meet with St. Luke’s sleep specialists to review your medical history and sleep patterns. Discuss various sleep disorders and how they prevent you from falling or staying asleep.
Discuss with your specialist behavioral, dietary, medication or lifestyle modifications that may have a positive effect on your sleep.
Undergo a diagnostic sleep study at one of St. Luke’s Sleep Disorders Centers
Schedule a follow-up appointment with St. Luke’s sleep specialists to discuss your lifestyle modifications, sleep study results and next steps.