Did you know that 40 million people in the U.S. have a chronic sleep disorder? Sleep disorders includes complications with sleeping, snoring, insomnia, sleep apnea, sleep deprivation and restless leg syndrome. When you do not get good sleep, it can cause serious health effects including fatigue, weight gain, headaches, daytime sleepiness and more.
One critical sleep disorder is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can be associated with snoring at night, interruptions in breathing and frequent awakenings. Snoring and pauses in breathing can be signs of sleep apnea. But one does not need to have those symptoms to have sleep apnea.
Anyone can be at risk for sleep apnea, including children. Chances of having sleep apnea or being at risk of sleep apnea is higher if you are overweight, over the age of 40, male, have a family history of sleep apnea, nasal obstruction and more.When sleep apnea is left untreated, many problems can arise, including diabetes, depression, heart failure, stroke, high blood pressure and headaches.
Today, Dr. Nazarian offers in home sleep studies to help diagnose sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. The sleep study is done in the comfort of the patients’ home. The Itamar Watch-PAT 200 is an FDA approved portable in home diagnostic equipment that can perform accurate screenings for sleep apnea. The Watch- PAT 200 is also used as a follow up treatment as well. The sleep study collects data about your oxygen levels, breathing, heart rate and stages of sleep while you are sleeping. The cost of the in-home sleep study is more cost efficient than testing performed in a lab and it is much easier for those with other chronic illnesses.
