More than 50 million Americans suffer from a sleep disorder at some time
in their lives, many of whom aren’t even aware they have one. Sleep
disorders can lead to problems with attention, concentration, memory,
worsen mental health, and cause serious physical problems such as high
blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), stroke, and
diabetes. Fortunately, sleep disorders are quite treatable and effective
treatment can significantly improve overall health and quality of life.
Ogden Clinic’s double board-certified Sleep Medicine and
Neurology physician, Dr. Chris Hammond, has extensive, specialized training in sleep
disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia. He has helped hundreds of
patients achieve restful sleep through conducting sleep studies to diagnose
their sleep disorder so it can be treated.
Do I Have a Sleep Disorder?
If you have questions about a sleep problem or disorder, your health care
professional may refer you to a sleep lab in Ogden where you can participate
in a sleep study (also called a polysomnogram). Before the sleep study
takes place, your doctor will ask you a range of questions regarding your
medical and sleep history, as well as discuss your sleep habits if you
have a bed partner who may report that you snore, stop breathing, or kick
your legs when sleeping.
Many who have a sleep disorder aren’t even aware of it, but if you
answer “yes” to any of these questions, you may want to consider
getting a sleep study:
Do you feel tired or exhausted when you wake up in the morning and/or throughout the day?
Do you have trouble falling asleep at night?
Are you overweight?
Do you have morning headaches?
Do you suffer from depression or anxiety?
Do you have difficulty concentrating?
Do you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease?
Does your sleep partner tell you seem to have gaps in your breathing when
you sleep, you snore, or you kick your legs at night?
Sleep Studies: What to Expect
A
sleep study usually begins in the late evening and ends about 6:00 a.m. the next morning.
When you arrive at Ogden Clinic, a staff member will explain more about
the test and answer any questions you might have. You will be asked to
change into your nightclothes. After changing, a technician will connect
you to non-painful sensors so you can be monitored and information collected
throughout the night. You’ll spend the night in a private bedroom
and the technician will monitor you from another room throughout the night.
Once the sleep study is completed,
Dr. Chris Hammond will interpret the results and forward his interpretation to the physician
who ordered the sleep study. Appropriate follow up is then arranged for
effective sleep disorder treatment.
Sleep studies are generally easy to tolerate, comfortable for patients,
and give the sleep physician the information he/she needs in order to
accurately diagnose and provide the best sleep disorder treatment for
Ogden patients.
