Having trouble catching those ZZZs? A sleep study could provide some helpful insight.

More often than not you probably hear someone complaining about not getting enough sleep. Maybe you wrestle with this issue yourself. While there are so many things that can affect the quality of our sleep, one thing is certain: there are countless people out there not getting the sleep they need to lead a healthy and productive life. Our Columbia, SC, sleep doctor Dr. Richard Bogan wants you to finally get the sleep you deserve.

Who should visit a sleep specialist?

Sure, a couple nights of tossing and turning may not warrant visiting a sleep specialist in Columbia, SC; however, if your sleep problems are more frequent or are severely impacting your quality of life then it’s time to call us. It’s time to schedule an appointment with us if you regularly:

• Have trouble falling asleep
• Have trouble staying asleep
• Wake up in the morning with extreme exhaustion
• Find yourself unable to get through the day due to excessive tiredness
• Snore loudly or if a partner notices that you stop breathing in your sleep

Sometimes you may not even know that you are dealing with a sleep problem; however, if you don’t feel well rested when you wake up, even after the proper amount of sleep, then this is a warning sign that something might be going on that could be hampering the quality of your sleep. This is definitely worth investigating.

What are the different kinds of sleep tests?

There are several different kinds of sleep disorders, each with their own types of diagnostic sleep tests. When you come in for a consultation we will sit down with you and ask you questions about your symptoms. From there, we will be able to make conclusions about what could be causing your sleep issues. Common sleep disorders include:

• Insomnia
• Sleep apnea
• Narcolepsy
• Periodic limb movements of sleep
• Sleepwalking

Common sleep tests that we perform right here at our Columbia, SC, facility include:

• Polysomnogram: This sleep test will study all of your vital signs, as well as muscle activity, brain waves and heart function while you are asleep.
• CPAP titration: This test is often used to diagnose sleep apnea
• Split-night polysomnogram: This is another test designed to diagnose sleep apnea and also determine the best course of CPAP treatment to improve your symptoms.
• Multiple sleep latency test: If you experience extreme daytime fatigue and sleepiness then this diagnostic test will often be performed. During this test, the patient will take several 20-minute naps over the course of a few hours to see how quickly you fall asleep.

Don’t spend another night tossing and turning. It’s time to find the answers you need to rest easier. Here in Columbia, SC, the team at Bogan Sleep Consultants will work with you to not just figure out what might be causing your sleep problems but also to help you manage them. We want to turn that dream of experiencing restorative sleep into reality.