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Start with your doctor
The best source of information regarding sleep and sleep disorders
is your doctor. Discuss your sleep concerns during one of
your scheduled visits, or make a special appointment specifically
to discuss what is going on. Once you’ve presented your
problem, your doctor will be able to give you a better understanding
of your experiences and may recommend treatment or evaluation.
Sleep Specialists
Most communities have a variety of medical specialists, including
sleep specialists who provide evaluation and treatment services
to patients. When considering a sleep specialist, it is advisable
to search for those who are Board Certified in Sleep Medicine.
These individuals have had extensive training and have passed
an examination that qualifies them for this title. To find
a board-certified sleep specialist in your area, click
here.
Sleep Centers
There are thousands of diagnostic and treatment centers that
specialize in the evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders.
These centers specialize in office evaluations as well as
“sleep laboratory” testing for sleep disorders.
Visiting a Sleep Center: What
to Expect
When you visit an accredited sleep center, you can expect
to be seen by a physician who is board eligible or board certified
in sleep medicine. If you were referred for consultation,
the doctor will meet with you to review your sleep, medical,
and psychiatric histories. A physical examination and supporting
laboratory studies (e.g., blood samples, urine sample, EKG)
also may be provided. The doctor will determine the need for
overnight or daytime sleep laboratory testing based upon the
results of this evaluation. Some patients are referred to
the sleep center for laboratory testing only, in which case
their first visits to the center may be at night.
Sleep laboratory testing is conducted in comfortable, private
rooms. Patients typically report to a sleep center one or
two hours before their usual bedtimes, have electrodes and
sensors applied for recording, and then go to bed and sleep
for 7 – 8 hours while a technologist monitors tests
from another room. The testing process is painless, and most
people accommodate quickly to the laboratory environment.
It is similar to sleeping overnight in a modest hotel room.
Insurance Coverage
Sleep medicine services are covered by most insurance plans,
and by Medicare. Office visits and procedures that are performed
according to current standards of practice are commonly approved.
However, insurance policies vary, so you or the sleep center
staff should check with your insurance carrier to determine
the limits of your coverage.
Don’t Ignore the Problem
Some problems go away when you ignore them. Sleep disorders
don’t. Evaluation by a competent professional is the
first step in finding relief.
The importance of a sleep disorders evaluation is emphasized
by clinical studies that reveal the risks associated with
untreated sleep problems. For example, people with untreated
insomnia are higher risk for the later development of depression
than those without insomnia. And people with untreated sleep
apnea are at greater risk for high blood pressure, irregular
heartbeats, stroke and death.
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