Don’t face yet another night of tossing and turning. Let us help.

Not getting quality sleep is an epidemic in the US. So much so that people just assume that a night of restless sleep is the new norm. This is a dangerous mindset. Everyone can and should get restful sleep each and every night for a healthy mind and body. It’s amazing how poor sleep can impact your health. Our Columbia, SC, sleep doctor, Dr. Richard Bogan, is here to tell you the warning signs that it might be time to see a specialist and what sleep study might benefit you the most.

What is a sleep study?

A sleep study, sometimes referred to as a polysomnogram, is a way for our sleep specialists here in Columbia to check your vitals and certain autonomic processes of the body while you are sleep. This includes everything from measuring your heart rate and oxygen levels to brain waves and snoring. Sensors are placed on certain areas of the body before your sleep study to help our technicians monitor what’s going on within the body while you sleep.

What are the different kinds of sleep studies?

Since we are focused on the quality of your sleep the most common sleep study is performed overnight. Small sensors are placed on your person to look for signs of obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy, and other sleep problems.

Of course, sometimes a daytime sleep study is performed. The study is exactly the same as the overnight study; the only difference is that it’s conducted during the day. This is usually a great option for those who work night shifts and sleep during the daytime.

Based on the symptoms you are experiencing, other kinds of sleep studies may be recommended. For example, if we suspect that you might have narcolepsy we may prescribe the maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT), which will assess a patient’s ability to stay awake throughout the course of the day. If narcolepsy is suspected, a multiple sleep latency test will be recommended in which we study both rapid eye movement and brain waves to check different sleep stages.

When is a sleep study necessary?

If you are having trouble falling or staying asleep, if you find yourself dealing with extreme tiredness throughout the day or if your memory and concentration seem hazy then you could be dealing with a sleep disorder. It’s important that if you suspect that you have sleep problems that you turn to a specialist as soon as possible to prevent serious health problems.

Bogan Sleep Consultants in Columbia, SC, knows that getting good sleep is vital and yet not always as easy as it might seem. Let our expert sleep specialists find the missing piece that will have you sleeping soundly once again.