Can Sleep Medicine Treatment Improve Health?

Sleep medicine is a medical field that studies, diagnoses and treats sleep disorders. If you are suffering from a condition that affects your sleep, you should get help now. Restless nights can take their toll, but you can find relief. Not only can proper intervention help you overcome the disorder, but it could improve your overall health as well.

Typical sleep conditions

It is not uncommon for people to occasionally struggle to fall or stay asleep. Stress, illnesses or a demanding schedule could hinder a person’s sleep patterns. However, when sleeping issues become normal and interrupt an individual’s ability to function throughout the day, medical help may be necessary. Sleep medicine can address conditions such as sleep apnea. This disorder occurs when a person stops and starts breathing throughout the sleep cycle. Other sleeping illnesses are insomnia, sleepwalking, night terrors and narcolepsy.

Examination

A doctor that focuses on sleep medicine may first explore the patient’s health history. The doctor will examine the patient and assess whether the person has other medical problems that may contribute to poor sleeping habits. The doctor will ask the patient about family history and how long the person has had the sleep condition.

Sleep study

This is one of the most common methods for diagnosing the patient’s sleeping disorder. The patient will come to the hospital or another medical facility and sleep overnight. During this time, the doctor will keep an eye on the body’s activity. Instruments will monitor the patient’s heart rate, brain activity and other functions. The test will reveal whether there are interruptions to the patient’s sleep patterns. The doctor will share the results with the patient and make a treatment plan.

Treatments with medication

In sleep medicine, certain drugs can improve a patient’s ability to sleep more soundly. Sleeping pills can help a person fall asleep faster and stay asleep. These drugs are particularly useful for patients with insomnia. Supplements such as melatonin may also help. Some doctors might even recommend that the person takes allergy or cold medication to reduce congestion.

Other interventions

Doctors frequently treat patients who have sleep apnea. A CPAP machine helps to regulate the patient’s breathing throughout the night. Doctors and dentists might suggest that the person wears a mouthguard. This appliance can open the airway by pushing the jaw forward. It may also keep the tongue in place and prevent it from falling back into the throat and blocking the airway.

Sleep medicine and its effect on health

A lack of sleep can affect a person’s mood, energy levels and ability to fight off illnesses. There may be a connection between poor sleeping habits and conditions such as heart disease, obesity and diabetes. By getting the right treatment from a sleep doctor, the patient can minimize these risks and enjoy good health.

Get help if you need it

If you continue to suffer from sleeping disorders, do not wait any longer to see a doctor. A physician that practices sleep medicine knows how to identify your condition and help you find relief. Make an appointment with a doctor today so you can be on the road to recovery.

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