How Do I Know if I Have Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is more than just loud snoring; it’s a serious condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. This can lead to poor sleep quality, daytime fatigue, and even cardiovascular problems if untreated. Conway Medical Center’s Sleep Disorders Center wants you to know how we can help you determine if you have sleep apnea.
Causes and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea occurs due to blocked airways (obstructive sleep apnea) or when the brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing (central sleep apnea). Common symptoms include”
- Loud snoring
- Gasping for air during sleep
- Morning headaches
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Awakening in the morning with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Trouble focusing during the day
Diagnosing Sleep Apnea with a Sleep Study
To accurately diagnose sleep apnea, a sleep study, or polysomnogram (PSG), is essential. This study monitors various physiological markers such as brain waves, heart rate, and breathing patterns while you sleep. At the CMC Sleep Disorders Center, the study is conducted in a comfortable, hotel-like environment, ensuring a natural sleep experience that helps provide accurate results.
Treatment Options
Treatment for sleep apnea often includes lifestyle changes, such as weight loss or avoiding alcohol, along with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, which uses a machine to keep airways open. In some cases, oral appliances or surgery may be recommended.
Why Undergo a Sleep Study?
Undergoing a sleep study at a specialized center like the CMC Sleep Disorders Center can help detect sleep apnea early, leading to better management and prevention of associated health risks. With a personalized sleep evaluation and state-of-the-art technology, the center ensures a thorough and comfortable assessment, paving the way for a healthier life.
For more information, you can visit the CMC Sleep Disorders Center.
A New Way to Enjoy Your Sleep Study: In A Hotel!
Sleep studies have historically taken place within clinical sleep laboratories. These controlled environments allow clinicians to monitor your sleep patterns, brain waves, heart rate, breathing, and other physiological markers. However, clinical settings like this may inadvertently influence your sleep, potentially skewing the results.
Recognizing this limitation, Conway Medical Center is employing alternative environments that mimic the familiarity and comfort of home. The Four Points by Sheraton in Myrtle Beach, with its cozy rooms, plush beds, and quiet surroundings, offers accommodations for conducting sleep studies that reflect more natural sleep conditions.
By replicating home-like conditions at our Sleep Disorders Center at the Four Points by Sheraton, we can gain deeper insights into your sleep patterns and potential disorders, and ultimately create better sleep-related interventions and treatments to help you get a better night’s sleep. And you get to enjoy the accommodations of an overnight stay in a premier hotel environment.
Talk with your primary care doctor today to see if a sleep study is right for you. With a referral from your provider, we can get you on your way to a better night’s sleep.
