- Definition: Sleep Clinic
A sleep clinic refers to a clinic that is dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders. Your family doctor may refer you to a sleep doctor if he / she suspects something serious underlying your inability to sleep well.
Sleep clinics are relatively new in Australia. But major cities do have a few of them.
- What can you expect at a sleep clinic?
You should see a sleep specialist if you snore loudly or wake up in the middle of the night gasping for air and then find it difficult to sleep again, or wake up in the morning feeling cranky or not rested well.
At the sleep clinic, you will probably be asked to fill out a detailed history of your sleep patterns, whether you smoke / drink, medications you’ve been taking lately, and a little about your lifestyle and work habits. The point is to know as much about you as possible this information helps the doctors in figuring out the possible causes behind why you find sleeping difficult and whether you might have developed a serious sleep disorder.
The sleep clinic may require an overnight visit to conduct a sleep study. Sleep disorders, like Apnea and Narcolepsy, can usually be diagnosed in one night. But, for other disorders, such as insomnia, you may need to visit the clinic several nights in a row. However, you can also opt for Sleep Study at Home, wherein sleep technicians visit you to monitor your sleeping patterns.
In a typical sleep study, you’re made to sleep with electrodes that are attached to various points on your body. When you fall asleep, these electrodes collect key information through your brain waves, eye movement (indicating REM sleep), muscle tension, and breathing patterns. A sleep technician may also use a camera and an audio-recorder while monitoring your sleep pattern. The data is collected, and then read and analyzed by a sleep doctor.
- Sleep Clinic and your dream to have a good night’s sleep
Most of us in Australia aren’t even aware that we might have some kind of sleep disorders that need to be treated. A common sleep disorder in Australia is Sleep Apnea. Every year, more than 10 million cases of Sleep Apnea come to light! Sleep Apnea is more common in men. And its prominent symptoms include loud snoring and feeling tired even after a full night’s sleep. So if you snore or your partner snores, see a specialist. Consultations do not cost much in fact, a mere interaction with the specialist and a simple device, like CPAP, can help you sleep well and live better.
If you spend a lot of time in your bed trying sleeping, then you probably need to consult with a sleep specialist. We, at Aviss Health, have been diagnosing and treating sleep disorders for years. Our doctors take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your sleep issues and provide an unhurried consultation.
