Tag Archive for: sleep study

7 Ways Our Sleep Center Can Help Improve Your Daily Life

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Lack of sleep causes both men and women of all ages problems with concentration, performing daily tasks, mood, and even your general health. You probably already know that sleep is essential for physical and mental health, but did you know that it can also impact things like your weight and memory loss? Our Florida Pulmonary Associates & Sleep Centers can help you tackle difficult sleep disorders that affect your daily life and help you live a happier, healthier life.

Our sleep centers have been providing sleep disorder treatments for over 30 years. We treat a variety of common sleep disorders including chronic insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome and even excessive snoring. We use a variety of treatments to help patients develop a regular night time routine, explore possible treatment options and also support patients as they make lifestyle changes that can drastically improve their sleep health.

If you suffer from lack of sleep every night or you regularly wake up late for work due to tossing and turning all night, it might be time to consider a sleep study. When working to perform daily tasks, if you have trouble concentrating and finishing projects or your moods are erratic and your energy level is consistently low, it’s time. Lack of sleep has started taking its toll on your daily life, but we can help get you back on track.

Below are seven ways our sleep center can change your life for the better.

7 Ways Participating in a Sleep Study Can Improve Your Life:

Better Memory and Concentration

Treatment for your sleep disorder leads to improved memory and concentration. Oftentimes, lack of sleep leads to increased trouble studying, working and performing daily tasks. When you start your treatment, you will start to find it easier to focus on completing tasks and projects, and you’ll realize that you make fewer mistakes. Bonus, better sleep health can also help you feel more creative!

Improved Emotional Wellbeing

Lack of sleep can often lead to feeling irritable and poor judgment when making decisions. You may find yourself getting angry more easily with family and co-workers. Sometimes you may get so upset that you cry over the simplest things. The right sleep therapy can help you improve your emotional stability. This will restore your peace of mind and help you to feel better during the day.  

Increased Natural Energy Levels

If you feel like you have to drag yourself through the day drinking copious amounts of coffee and eating sugary, junk food to keep you going – you’re not living your healthiest life. Due to your lack of sleep, it may also be hard to find the inspiration to exercise or even perform your daily tasks and chores. Our sleep studies help us also devise a treatment plan for you that will include diet, exercise and lifestyle changes that lead to increased natural energy levels.

Read More: How Much Does a Sleep Study Cost?

Better Weight Management

 Sleep problems often lead to poor eating choices and lack of discipline with dieting.  Sleep disorders can cause the body to have problems burning calories and lead to increased appetites.  Oftentimes, lack of sleep can lead to your food not being processed properly in the body because of your irregular habits.  When people get their sleep routine back on track, paired with a healthier diet plan, many sleep medicine patients will see significant weight loss.

Protection Against Illness

A good night sleep reduces the chance of inflammation in your cardiovascular system which reduces the chance of heart disease.  Better sleep habits can also help control blood pressure and cholesterol issues. When we sleep, our body also produces more protein molecules that protect against infections, which is why your doctor recommends that you rest when you get a cold. Resting can help keep your mild cold from developing into a more serious issue!  

Fewer Accidents on the Road, Work, or Home  

All too often, a lack of sleep is the culprit of minor or serious car accidents on the road. Many patients with severe sleep disorders have even reported falling asleep while they’re behind the wheel! Getting treatment for your sleep disorder can decrease your chances of accidents that threaten your life and the lives of others around you.

If you feel like any of the scenarios above apply to you, consider participating in a sleep study to evaluate your overall sleep health and we’ll offer treatment options that work for you.  Schedule an appointment online today or check out more resources we have on sleep medicine and our treatment options.

Sleep Study Costs: Does Insurance Pay for Sleep Studies?

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Polysomnography? Oh gosh, that sounds expensive.

Well really, it is just the fancy word doctors use for a sleep study. Sleep studies are overnight exams that doctors conduct to diagnose sleep disorders. During the study, REM cycles, non-REM cycles, oxygen levels, eye movements, and heart rates are all observed by our sleep specialists who evaluate any issues the patient has during sleep. The most common sleep disorders our doctors find in patients during sleep studies are insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and narcolepsy.

So, if sleep studies help answer important questions about a patient’s sleep health and are integral to creating a treatment plan… does insurance cover the sleep studies and if not, how much do the studies cost?

How much does a sleep study cost?

Yes, sleep studies are usually covered by health insurance.

Most sleep disorder centers are just like a regular doctor’s office and accept multiple insurance plans. This can make the entire process of going through a sleep study much easier, though it is always smart to check with your insurance company and plan first to see if they cover sleep study costs. Insurance companies are there to help, so never be afraid to ask questions.

There is no real estimate of how much a sleep study could cost. Some sleep disorder clinics could charge as little as $600 while some charge up to $5,000 a night. Because of the varying prices of studies, the amount of money insurance covers also varies.

When a patient pays their deductible for their insurance can affect how much money they are paying out of pocket as well.

Co-Payments for Sleep Studies

Co-payments are always due at the times of service, however. These co-payments can vary depending on the services being provided and how often they are being provided. These co-payments are not covered by any insurance plans and can be made with cash, check, or credit card.

Other Fees

Other fees that can come up while going through the process of a sleep study are ones that come with further testing. The doctor might want x-rays or labs that some insurance companies might not cover. Once again, it is always smart to check first, so there is no surprise when the bill comes.

The Importance of Sleep

If an insurance company is giving a patient a hard time, most sleep disorder centers will help back up the patient on the importance of the process. Not only does sleep help mental health, but it is also important for a person’s physical health. Sleep deficiency caused by disorders is found to increase heart and kidney disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Sleep studies that pinpoint a patient’s problem can be the first step in the process to prevent these further and more serious issues.

Fees Down the Road

Remember, a sleep study is to figure out what is going wrong with your sleep cycle. Because of this, there could be more fees for treatment, medication or other types of solutions. Sleep Apnea, for example, requires additional sleep studies and tests because of the severity of the problem. Keep this in mind and plan ahead with your insurance company.

What Is the Circadian Rhythm And How Does It Affect Sleep?

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If you have trouble getting to sleep or waking up at a normal hour, then you may have heard someone tell you that your circadian rhythm may be off. But what is circadian rhythm exactly? How does this sleep disorder affect your ability to sleep?

The short answer is that your circadian rhythm is your internal body clock, a roughly 24-hour cycle that dictates when you feel drowsy and when you feel alert. According to Dr. Rolando Sanchez, “the circadian rhythm is a cycle of hormones that tells you when to sleep. Some people, such as overnight workers, are more prone to have circadian problems.”

How Does the Circadian Rhythm Disorder Work?

So what are circadian rhythms? The word circadian comes from two Latin words circa (meaning around) and Diem (meaning day), which means that a circadian rhythm is any endogenous biological timing mechanism that works on a 24-hour cycle. Endogenous means that it is internal and self-sustained, but in the case of human circadian rhythm it is also regulated and adjusted by external factors such as exposure to sunlight, temperatures, and sleep schedule.

The circadian rhythm is regulated by the hypothalamus, a region in the brain. The hypothalamus is the area of the brain that is responsible for the creation of many hormones and the maintenance of homeostasis, or the body’s status quo. Hypothalamic hormones regulate temperature, thirst, hunger, mood, sex drive, and sleep. The hypothalamus is also responsible for distributing hormones throughout the rest of the body.

Melatonin is one of these hormones that is regulated in the hypothalamus. Melatonin is distributed in accordance with light exposure. At night, when it is dark your eyes send a signal to your hypothalamus which then sends a signal to the body to release melatonin which makes you tired. This tends to happen relative to the 24-hour cycle of the circadian rhythm, but that rhythm can get out of sync if a person is habitually not exposed to light.

> Sleep Medicine Treatment Options

Circadian Rhythm Disorders:

The key feature of circadian rhythm sleep disorder is continuous or occasional disruptions in sleep patterns. To put it simply, they are disruptions in a person’s circadian rhythm. These disorders come in a few different forms, but they are usually caused by a mismatch in the hormone cycle of the rhythm and the external factors that influence it. So, people who work nonstandard hours or live in areas that stay light or dark for extended periods of time are most likely to be affected.

Scientists are still doing research on circadian rhythm sleep, and other possible causes and risk factors for disorders. Some studies suggest depression, obesity, diabetes, and bipolar disorder as being linked to circadian rhythm disorders. Let’s look at a few common disorders:

  • Jet Lag: You have probably experienced this or known someone who has experienced jet lag but never known that it is a disorder of your circadian rhythm. The conflict between the body’s internal rhythm and the new time zone can cause disruptions in sleep patterns. But this condition typically goes away in a short amount of time.
  • Shift Work Disorder: This affects people who frequently rotate shifts or work at night. Forcing yourself to stay awake all night habitually can cause the mismatch in your body clock that disrupts sleep patterns and leads to insomnia and excessive sleepiness.
  • Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder: This disorder typically occurs in adolescents and young adults. It results in people who cannot get to bed until 2 a.m. or later, and can lead to impairment at work or school and daytime sleepiness. Unlike jet lag, this is a recurring condition that can persist for years.
  • Advanced Sleep Phase Disorder: This disorder is typically seen in the elderly. It can be identified by early bedtimes and early morning awakening. People with this disorder may wake up at 3 a.m. and not be able to get back to sleep. This is also a recurring condition that can persist for years.
  • Narcolepsy: Narcolepsy can be a serious problem in which people experience intense daytime sleepiness and uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep in the daytime despite getting adequate sleep at night.

More Information on Circadian Rhythm Disorder

Sleep deprivation can be a very serious thing, and if you experience it you should undergo a sleep study to see what is causing it. The Pulmonary Associates of Brandon offer state of the art equipment and comfortable environments to undergo sleep studies and get you on the way to restful, normal sleep.

5 Ways A Sleep Specialist Can Change Your Life

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It has been drilled into our brains since we were young that getting eight hours of sleep a day is not just ideal but very important. However, actually getting eight hours every night is easier said than done. When some people have constant trouble falling asleep or find themselves having other sleep problems such as insomnia or sleep apnea, they make their way to a sleep specialist to find a solution.

What is a sleep specialist in Brandon?

A sleep specialist underwent extensive training to diagnose and treat sleep-related disorders which enable the specialist to observe irregularities that occur during your sleep. When these problems are recognized and diagnosed, the patient’s life can be changed completely, not only because he or she will finally be able to get a good night’s sleep, but because of the effects sleep causes on the rest of our lives. The time we spend asleep is just as important as the time we spend awake.

How can a sleep specialist and sleep disorder treatment change my everyday life?

1.     Sleep specialists can answer the questions your restless mind has been looking for in between tosses and turns. During a sleep study, a specialist can observe all the things a sleeping patient can not see on their own. Once these problems are pointed out and diagnosed, the solutions can start.

2.     Snoring, which happens when so many people fall asleep, can actually be a symptom of a bigger problem. Snoring is not as normal as most people believe and should be observed if it gets to a certain point. Sleep specialists can help find the cause of snoring and put it to an end.

3.     Not getting enough sleep can cause fatigue and stress during the hours the patient is awake. This can lead to constantly feeling distracted, tired and weak. A sleep specialist can help pinpoint the issues that cause a patient to not be able to fall asleep and, once these issues are taken care of, the patient will be more lively, awake and rested for the daytime.

4.     Sleep and heart disease can be linked very tightly. Not getting enough sleep can lead to high blood pressure or stress on the cardiac system. Overtime, constantly not getting enough sleep can lead to much larger cardiac issues. Sleep specialists can help resolve issues before they get out of hand.

5.     Getting enough sleep can actually help with weight management. For people who are constantly struggling with their weight and getting control of it. Sleep specialists are able to help patients manage their sleep and because of this, manage their weight.

Sleep issues are known to cause domino effects in patients’ health. The first step to stopping these dominos before they begin is to set up an appointment with a sleep specialist in Brandon. If you are searching for a sleep specialist in Brandon, simply schedule an appointment online with Pulmonary Associates of Brandon.